KUNSHAN, May 18 ― “We will be back.” This was the pledge of the Uber Cup squad after completing their last group A match which saw Malaysia beat Spain 3-2 at Kunshan Sports Centre here. 

With the victory, Malaysia ended their group A matches in third place behind China and Denmark and failed to progress into the quarter-finals.

However, praise should be given to the team comprising Goh Liu Ying, Tee Jing Yi, Goh Jin Wei, Ho Yen Mei and Sonia Cheah and the doubles pairs of Vivian Hoo/Woon Khe Wei, Amelia Alicia Anscelly and Chow Mei Kuan/Lee Meng Yean.    

Despite losing to world badminton giants, the national squad succeeded in taking China to a five-hour match before losing 5-0 in the opening group A on Sunday. 

Malaysia almost created an upset in the match against Denmark when both teams were tied at 2-2 but had to concede to a 2-3 loss eventually.

Goh Jin Wei at first singles gives world number one Marin Carolina a hard time before submitting 18-21, 22-20, 16-21.

For youngest player Jin Wei,16, who made her Uber Cup debut, playing against some of the world top ranked players was a valuable experience.

She said she learnt a lot when playing against Wang Yihan of China and two-time World Champion Carolina Marin of Spain. 

“We look forward to the next two years. We may probably reach the quarter-final or even semi-final,” said Jin Wei.

Meanwhile, Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) technical director Morten Frost Hansen said the Uber Cup squad did well despite lacking experience. 

“The team's main fault is lack of experience as they are still young. They

can go far but we just need to keep working on it. 

“Maybe by adding one or two more players as time goes by. I think we can have a formidable team,” he said. 

Today's results

Thomas Cup (Group Stage)

Group B: Indonesia 5 India 0

Jonatan Christie bt Ajay Jayaram 21-14, 21-12; Angga Pratama/Ricky Karand Suwardi bt Manu Attri/Akshay Delwakar 21-18, 21-17; Anthony Ginting bt B. Sai Praneeth 18-21, 21-11, 21-15;

Gideon Markus Fernaldi/Hendra Setiawan bt B. Sumeeth Reddy/Satwiksairaj Rankireddy 21-9, 21-18; Ihsan Maulana Mustofa bt Sourabh Varma 21-10, 20-22, 21-13.

Group B: Thailand 1 Hong Kong 4

Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk lost to Angus Ng Ka Long 12-21, 11-21; Dechapol Puavaranukroh/Kedren Kittinupong lost to Or Chin Chung/Tang Chun Man 11-21, 21-13, 13-21;

Khosit Phetpradab lost to Hu Yun 19-21, 12-21; Tinn Isriyanate/Nipitphon Puangpuapech bt Chan Tsz Kit/Law Cheuk Him 21-18, 21-15; Namkul Adulrach lost to Wei Nan 17-21, 16-21.

Uber Cup (Group Stage)

Group D: Japan 3 India 2

Nozomi Okuhara lost to Saina Nehwal 18-21, 6-21; Akane Yamaguchi lost to Pusarla V.Sindu 11-21, 18-21; Misaki Matsutomo/Ayaka Takahashi bt Jwala Gutta/Sikki Reddy Nelakurihi

21-11, 21-8; Sato Sayaka bt Ruthvika Shivani Gadde 21-7, 21-14; Shizuka Matsuo/Mami Naito bt Ashwini Ponnappa/Pusarla V. Sindhu 15-21, 21-19, 21-16.

Group B: South Korea 4 Taiwan 1

Sung Ji Hyun lost to Tai Tzu Ying 11-21, 17-21; Jung Kyung Eun/Shin Seung Chan bt Hsieh Pei Chen/Wu Ting Ji 21-15, 21-11; Bae Yeon Ju bt Pai Yu Po 19-21, 21-10, 21-17; Chang Ye Na/Lee So Hee bt Chen Hsiao Huan/Hsu Ya Ching 21-12, 21-16; Kim Hyo Min bt Hsu Ya Ching 21-18, 21-11. ― Bernama