Hosts Malaysia served a surprise when they thrashed Chinese Taipei 5-0 in the final Group C preliminary round match in the E-Plus Badminton Asia Team Championships on Thursday.
The 5-0 whitewash was most painful for Chinese Taipei as Thailand, who had beaten Malaysia 3-2 and Myanmar were edged out by the Thais, for a top two finish with Malaysia winning the group.
Later at the quarter-final draw held at the same venue defending champions Indonesia will take on Japan while Malaysia will face Hong Kong. Top seeds China will will be up against India, the Group B champions after a close fought 3-2 win over the Indians who finished second.
Thailand will face South Korea in their quarter-final encounter with the winners taking on either Japan or Indonesia in the semi-finals on Saturday.
All semi-finalists in the Asian meet will gain an automatic berth in the Thomas Cup Finals in Bangkok in May. – BADMINTON ASIA
RESULTS (Feb 8)
GROUP C
Finals Group C matches
Malaysia beat Chinese Taipei 5-0
(Malaysia first)
MS1: Lee Chong Wei Wang Tzu Wei 21-17, 13-21, 21-15
MD1: Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong beat Lee Jhe-huei-Lee Yang 21-14, 19-21, 21-16
MS2: Lee Zii Jia beat Hsu Jen Hao 21-16, 21-13
MD2: Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi beat Lu Ching Yao-Yang Po Han 21-14, 20-22, 21-13
MS3: Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin beat Lin Yu Hsien 21-19, 21-15
Thailand beat Myanmar 5-0
GROUP D
Indonesia beat India 3-2
Philippines beat Maldives 5-0
