# Malaysians score another come-from-behind 3-1 win
# Malaysia to face defending champions China in the final
# 10-time champions China stroll past Japan 3-0
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By Rizal Abdullaha
Malaysia are in the final of the BWF World Junior Mixed Team championships for the Suhandinata Cup – after another stunning come-from-behind 3-1 win – this time over Thailand in the semi-finals.
The win came in the wake of the 3-1 win over last year’s runners-up Indonesia in the quarter-finals on Friday.
On Saturday, the fired up Malaysia registered a similar in Bilbao, Spain to face mighty China, the defending champions, for the coveted trophy in the final on Sunday.
Ten-time champions China breezed past last year’s bronze medallists Japan 3-0 in the other semi-final are favourites to retain the title they won in Lima, Peru last year. However, the Malaysians have gone from strength to strength and their confidence has sky-rocketed after wins over Indonesia and Thailand.
Malaysia have won the Suhandinata Cup only once and this was in Taipei in 2011 after finishing runners-up in 2009 when Malaysia hosted the world meet in Alor Setar.
The scenario in the semi-final tie against the Thais was the same as against Indonesia. Malaysia lost their first point when the mixed doubles pair of Ooi Zi Heng-Pearly Tan Koong Le were beaten 22-20, 20-22, 12-21 by Pakin Kuna-Anuvit-Reutthaichanok Laisuan in a 49 minute match.
But that was as far as the Thais went as Malaysia came back strongly once again to win the men’s and women’s singles through Lee Zii Jia and Goh Jin Wei respectively to take a 2-1 lead.
Zii Jia defeated Kantaphon Wangcharoen 21-18, 21-13 in 38 minutes before reigning world junior champion Jin Wei stepped onto the court for a masterly performance for a 21-12, 21-15 over Pornpawee Chochuwong in 35 minutes to put Malaysia in the driving seat.
Once again it was left to the men’s doubles pair Chen Tang Jie-Man Wei Chong to decide the tie and the Malaysians rose to the occasion with a convincing 21-18, 21-12 win over Panachai Worasaktayana-Warit Sarapat in 32 minutes.
China were hardly tested by the Japanese, except in the men’s singles where Sun Feixiang was stretched to three sets by Koki Watanabe in his 9-21, 21-10, 21-17 win in 55 minutes to give his team a 2-0 lead.
He Jiting-Due Yu gave China the first point by winning the mixed doubles with a 21-17, 21-16 win over Hiroki Okamura-Nami Matsuyama. China sealed the tie by winning the men’s doubles through Han Chengkai-Zhou Haodong. The Chinese beat Masayuki Onodera-Hiroki Okamura 21-19, 21-12.
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RESULTS (SEMI-FINALS)
China beat Japan 3-0
(China first)
Men’s singles
Sun Feixiang beat Koki Watanabe 9-21, 21-10, 21-17
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Men’s doubles
Han Cheng Kai-Zhou Haodong beat Masayuki Onodera-Hiroki Okamura 21-19, 21-12
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Mixed doubles
Du Yu-He Jiting beat Ling Fang Hu-Li Wei Su 21-16, 21-7
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Malaysia beat Thailand 3-1
(Malaysia first)
Men’s singles
Lee Zii Jia beat Kantaphon Wangcharoen 21-18, 21-13
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Men’s doubles
Chen Tang Jie-Man Wei Chong beat Warit Sarapat- Panachai Worasaktayana21-18, 21-12
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Women’s singles
Goh Jin Wei beat Pornpawee Chochuwong 21-12, 21-15
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Mixed doubles
Ooi Zi Heng-Pearly Tan Koong Le lost to Pakin Kuna Anuvit-Ruetthaichanok Laisuan 22-20, 20-22, 12-21
