Back to you: Lee Zii Jia returning a shot to Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen. — Badminton Photo
PETALING JAYA: It was not the way Malaysia had wanted to win. But they were not complaining.
Malaysia beat Denmark 3-1 to storm into the Sudirman Cup semi-finals on a day which saw the big match between the two men’s singles stars – Lee Zii Jia and Viktor Axelsen – fizzle out in just five minutes.
Malaysia will now take on second seeds and four-time Sudirman Cup champions South Korea in the last four at Suzhou, China today at 10am.
If they win, Malaysia will make it to their first ever final in the series.
Yesterday, Zii Jia had hoped to give Axelsen a great fight but at 4-4 in the first game, the world No. 1 limped out with a hamstring injury on his left leg.
It gave Malaysia an easy 2-0 lead as mixed pair Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei had earlier huffed and puffed to deliver the first point by beating Mathias Christiansen-Alexandra Boje 15-21, 21-14, 21-7.
“It’s not the way we wanted to win and I hope Viktor will recover soon. But we are now in a good lead, and I hope Wei Wei (Goh Jin Wei) will win the next,” Zii Jia said after the win.
Jin Wei did not. She fumbled at the crucial stage in the decider, losing 14-21, 21-15, 19-21 against Mia Blichfeldt.
World champions Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik however, followed the script when they took 42 minutes to blow away Kim Astrup-Anders Skaarup Rasmussen 21-17, 21-16 to hand Malaysia the winning point.
Malaysia’s will now be making their third appearance in the semi-finals of the world mixed team, having also reached the same stage in the 2009 and 2021 editions.
Aaron hoped to keep the momentum going against South Korea.
“It will be tough for sure as they are the favourites but we hope our team spirit will take us through,” said Aaron.
Tang Jie, who seemed troubled with an ankle issue earlier, brushed it aside as not a big problem.
“I played on with pain but I don’t think the ankle will be a problem. We struggled at first but I am glad we stopped giving easy points to our opponents and played well to finish it,” said Tang Jie.
Meanwhile, national coaching doubles director Rexy Mainaky was proud of the team.
“I see strong team spirit, and this has given me much satisfaction. So far, they have kept the team unity together.
“It will be tough against South Korea for sure but let the team settle down. I don’t want to pressure them, I’ll be happy if they put up another strong show.”
South Korea, who blew away Japan 5-0 in the group, beat Taiwan 3-1 yesterday to install themselves as heavy favourites to enter the final.
QUARTER-FINAL RESULTS
Japan bt Thailand 3-2 (Kyohei Yamashita-Naru Shinoya bt Dechapol Puavaranukroh-Sapsiree Taerattanachai 19-21, 23-21, 21-13; Akane Yamaguchi lost to Pornpawee Chochuwong 21-19, 17-21, 11-21; Kodai Naraoka lost to Kunlavut Vitidsarn 12-21, 13-21; Nami Matsuyama-Chiharu Shida bt Jongkolphan Kitiharakul-Rawinda Prajongjai 21-17, 20-22, 21-18; Takuro Hoki-Yugo Kobayashi bt Kittinupong KedrenDechapol Puavaranukroh 19-21, 21-10, 21-18).
South Korea bt Taiwan 3-1 (Seo Seung-jae-Chae Yujung bt Yang Po-hsuan-Hu Ling-fang 21-17, 21-19; Lee Yun-gyu lost to Chou Tien-chen 17-21, 16-21; An Se-young bt Tai Tzu-ying 21-13, 22-20; Kim Wanho-Na Sung-seung bt Lee Yang-Ye Hong-wei 21-19, 11-3 rtd).
China bt Indonesia 3-0 (Zheng Siwei-Huang Yaqiong bt Rinov Rivaldy-Gloria Emanuelle 13-21, 23-21, 21-11; Shi Yuqi bt Anthony Ginting 22-20, 21-14; Chen Yufei bt Mariska Tunjung 22-20, 21-12).
Malaysia bt Denmark 3-1 (Chen Tang Jie-Toh Eei Wei bt Mathias Christiansen-Alexandra Boje 15-21, 21-14, 21-7; Lee Zii Jia w.o. Viktor Axelsen 4-4; Goh Jin Wei lost to Mia Blichfeldt 14-21, 21-15, 19-21; Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik bt Kim Astrup-Anders Skaarup Rasmussen 21-17; 21-16).
