Malaysia crash out of Sudirman Cup

 

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's fine run at badminton's Sudirman Cup ended when the team crashed out in the semi-finals today in Suzhou, China. Malaysia, making only their third appearance in the last four stage of the world mixed-team competition, lost 3-1 to four-time winners South Korea.

After delivering the first point in all their four previous ties, Malaysia's mixed doubles suffered their first defeat today when Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei lost 11-21, 21-13, 21-7 to world No 5 Seo Seung Jae-Chae Yu Jung.

"We were confident of winning after taking the first game. We thought we knew their game well after playing them at the German Open this year.

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"Unfortunately, they switched their play and we got caught out. I made too many simple mistakes," Tang Jie lamented in the post-match interview with the Badminton World Federation.

Malaysia drew level through Lee Zii Jia, who made easy work of Jeon Hyeok Jin, 21-11, 21-9

But the tie then swung back in the Koreans' favour through world No 2 women's singles An Se Young.

Se Young, who has been in sensational form, downed the 20-year-old K. Letshanaa 21-10, 21-13.

It was all over for Malaysia, when world No 3 Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik lost 21-12, 21-11 to the scratch pair, Kim Won Ho-Na Sung Seung.

South Korea will play the winners of the tie between China and Japan next in the final.

Results

Malaysia 1 South Korea 3

Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei lost to Seo Seung Jae-Chae Yu Jung 11-21, 21-13, 21-7; Lee Zii Jia bt Jeon Hyeok Jin 21-11, 21-9; K. Letshanaa lost to An Se Young 21-10, 21-13; Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik lost to Kim Won Ho-Na Sung Seung 21-12, 21-11