KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 13 — As expected Malaysia beat India 4-1 in the men’s competition today to top Group B and qualify for the quarterfinals of the Asian Team Badminton Championships in Manila.

Malaysia, who beat Kazakhstan 5-0 yesterday, will take on South Korea in the last eight tomorrow.

In today’s match at Rizal Memorial Coliseum, Lee Zii Jia gave Malaysia a winning start when he beat India’s B. Sai Praneeth 21-18, 21-15.

The good showing of the world number 14 was emulated by doubles pair Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik, who took just 31 minutes to beat M.R. Arjun-Chirag Shetty 21-18, 21-15.

Malaysia’s second singles Cheam June Wei, ranked 72nd in the world, lost to world number 15 K. Srikanth 21-14, 16-21, 19-21.

However, Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi and the country’s third singles player Leong Jun Hao wrapped up the tie for Malaysia with excellent performances.

Ong-Teo defeated Dhruv Kapila-Lakshya Sen 21-14, 21-14 while Jun Hao beat H.S. Prannoy 21-10, 21-15.

The Malaysian women’s team also qualified for the quarterfinals despite losing 2-3 to Japan in a Group W match as there are only two teams in the group.

Malaysia’s two points came from Soniia Cheah, who beat Akane Yamaguchi 21-16, 13-21, 21-18, and S. Kisona, who overcame Aya Ohori 21-14, 21-13. 

Chow Mei Kuan-Lee Meng Yean lost to Yuki Fukushima-Sayaka Hirota 11-21, 15-21 while Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah went down 15-21, 21-18, 16-21 to Nami Matsuyama-Chiharu Shida.

Two-time world junior champion Goh Jin Wei proved to be a disappointment, losing 18-21, 12-21 to Sayaka Takahashi in only 35 minutes.

Malaysia will meet Taiwan in the women’s quarterfinals. — Bernama