Uber Cup Preliminary Round: Malaysia fails to overpower Thailand in quarter-final clash
Malaysia’s female shuttlers failed to live up to the expectations as they lost their quarter-final clash against Thailand at the Uber Cup Preliminary Round in Macau, on Thursday, February 16.
The playing format performed a crucial part as Malaysian Women’s Doubles shuttlers could not find a chance to play in the match because Thailand won all three Women’s Singles battles to seal their victory with a 3-0 margin.
Malaysia seemed stronger in the Women’s Doubles category where Chin Eei h*i – Wong Pei Tty and Vivian Hoo – Goh Liu Ying were ready to pounce on Thai shuttlers but the format of the match did not allow them as they were to play the fourth and fifth battles
in the match.
With this defeat, Malaysian females virtually failed to qualify for the Uber Cup Finals, which is scheduled to take place in Wuhan, in May.
In the opening fight of the quarter-final match, Malaysia’s top shuttler Tee Jing Yi was up against Inthanon Ratchanok of Thailand.
The Malaysian failed to play at his best and lost the battle in straight games with a one-sided score of 8-21 and 7-21.
In the following Women’s Singles battle, Malaysia’s Lydia Cheah also failed to overpower Porntip Buranaprasertsuk of Thailand and lost the match in straight sets with a 19-21 and 13-21 score on the board.
In the third Women’s Singles fight, Yang Li Lian of Malaysia could not continue her impressive run in the tournament as she lost to Sapsiree Taerattanachai in two games with a margin of 12-21 and 10-21.
Eei h*i, who was the captain of Malaysian team, said that the format of the match went against them as Thailand shuttlers are stronger in Women’s Singles category.
She said, "We did expect Thailand to utilise this format and it was very frustrating to lose this way. If both doubles had played, we would have had better chance."
However, she also said, "We still have a slim chance and have to take it one match at a time. We are hoping for the two doubles and one singles to keep our hopes alive."
Now, in order to qualify for Uber Cup Finals, Malaysian shuttlers need to win all matches against Indonesia, Singapore and Hong Kong, who have stronger squads on paper.
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