# Tough draw for Malaysia in Uber Cup Finals

Malaysia were handed a favourable draw in the Thomas Cup Finals – drawn in Group D together with defending champions Denmark, Russia and newcomers Algeria.

With the top two teams in each group advancing to the knockout stage for the quarter-finals Malaysia have to get past Denmark to top the group. For the record Denmark stopped Malaysia in the semi-finals two years ago in the Chinese city of Kunshan and went on to win the Cup.

Badminton Association of Malaysia president Datuk Seri Norza Zakaria described the draw as a “good draw” and said the real challenge will in the quarter-finals.

Malaysia have set the semi-finals as their initial target in the Finals which will held in Bangkok from May 20-27.

For the record Malaysia reached the Thomas Cup final at the 2014 edition in New Delhi but fell to Japan at the last hurdle.

Top seeds China are in Group and have India, France and Australia for company while Indonesia, South Korea, Canada and hosts Thailand are in Group B.

Group C is the ‘Group of Death’ with Chinese Taipei, Japan, Germany and Hong Kong China battling it out for the top two placed in the group.

While Malaysia can breathe easy in the Thomas Cup the women face a tough, tough draw in the Uber Cup Finals after being drawn with defending champions China, Indonesia and France.

Japan and India look set to make the knockout stage from Group A in the Uber Cup Finals with Canada and Australia completing the cast in the group.

Hosts Thailand, Chinese Taipei, Germany and Hong Kong China are in Group B while South Korea, Denmark, Russia and Mauritius completing Group C. – BY RIZAL ABDULLAH

 

THOMAS CUP

GROUP A: China, India, France, Australia

GROUP B: Indonesia, South Korea, Canada, Thailand

GROUP C: Chinese Taipei, Japan, Germany, Hong Kong China

GROUP D: Denmark, Malaysia, Russia, Algeria

 

UBER CUP

GROUP A: Japan, India, Canada, Australia

GROUP B: Thailand, Chinese Taipei, Germany, Hong Kong China

GROUP C: South Korea, Denmark, Russia, Mauritius

GROUP D: China, Indonesia, France, Malaysia

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