KUALA LUMPUR, May 25 — Malaysian second doubles pair clawed back to win a respite for Malaysia, giving renewed hope to bringing home the Thomas Cup after a 22-year gap in the final today in New Delhi, India.
Malaysian shuttlers Goh V. Shem and Tan Wee Kiong lost their first match 19-21 against Keigo Sonoda and Takeshi Kamura, but fought back to win the second and third match at 21-17 and 21-12 respectively.
World badminton top seed Datuk Lee Chong Wei had earlier raised Malaysia’s hope of taking home the Thomas Cup after 22 years with his smashing victory over Japan’s Kenichi Tago in straight sets.
Lee beat Tago 21-12 in the first set and scored 21-16 in the second set, putting Malaysia in the lead for the badminton world’s biggest championship.
However, Malaysia’s first badminton doubles pair Tan Boon Heong and Hoon Thien How lost to Japan, resulting in an even 1-1 score between the two nations.
Japanese Kento Momota beat Chong Wei Fern in straight sets 21-15 and 21-17, putting Japan 2-1 ahead of Malaysia.
The final singles battle will see Daren Liew up against Takuma Ueda.
The country which wins the first three games will take home the cup.
Malaysia last won the Thomas Cup in 1992 when the battle was fought on home ground.
The nearest it has come was when it reached the finals in Guangzhou, China in 2002 where the country was defeated 2-3 to Indonesia.
