Malaysian women get their first win in Uber Cup

# Reshuffled lineup earns Malaysia 3-2 win over Spain

# Jin Wei takes world champion Marin the full distance

# Malaysia stage dramatic come-from-behind win

By Rizal Abdullah

Malaysia finally secured their first win in the Uber Cup Finals with a come-from-behind 3-2 win over Spain – powered by world No 1 Carolina Marin – in their final Group A match in Kunshan, China on Wednesday.

It was reshuffled lineup by Malaysia that brought them victory after losing 5-0 to defending champions China in their opening match followed by a heartbreaking 3-2 defeat to European champions Denmark.

Malaysia rested their No 1 shuttler Tee Jing Yee against the Spaniards and field world junior champion Goh Jin Wei against world champion Marin.

The 16-year-old Jin Wei lost to her more experienced opponent but not without a fight. Jin Wei took Marin to three sets and stayed on court for 77 minutes before going down 18-21, 22-20, 16-21.

It was 2-0 for Spain when Ho Yen Mei lost the second singles to Beatriz Corrales 13-21, 9-21 in 25 minutes. Yen Mei had also lost her crucial third singles and decider in the match against Denmark.

However, the Malaysians, with pride at stake, were not giving up and Soniia Cheah turned the tide around with a 21-14, 21-18 win over Clara Azurmendi in the third singles.

Malaysia prevailed in both the doubles despite fielding scratch pairs.

Chow Mei Kuan-Lee Meng Yean made it 2-2 with a 21-12 21-7 win over Beatriz Corrales-Lorena Usle in the second doubles, which was played first and wrapped up the match through Amelia Alicia Anscelly-Woon Khe Wei stormed to a 21-12, 21-13 win against Clara Azurmendi-Laia Oset in 28 minutes.

Meanwhile, Japan, runners-up at the last edition in New Delhi, India in 2014 were made to slog by India in their 3-2 win in a Group D match. With the win Japan topped the group while India finished second to advance to the quarter-finals.

India raced to a 2-0 lead when world No 8 Saina Nehwal and world No 10 P.V. Sindhu won their first two singles matches against Nozomi Okuhara and Akane Yamaguchi.

Japan, powered by world No 1 women’s doubles pair Misaki Matsutomo-Ayaka Takahashi narrowed the deficit with an easy 21-11, 21-8 win over scratch pair Jwala Gutta-Sikki Reddy Nelakurihi.

Third singles Sayaka Sato outplayed Indian youngster Ruthvika Shiveni Gadde 21-7, 21-14 and it was left to the second doubles pair of Shizuka Matsuo-Mami Naito for the decider and they came through a set thriller to prevail 15-21, 21-19, 21-16.

UBER CUP RESULTS (May 18)

GROUP A

Malaysia beat Spain 3-2

(Malaysia first)

Singles

Goh Jin Wei lost to Carolina Marin 18-21, 22-20, 16-21

Ho Yen Mei lost to Beatriz Corrales 13-21, 9-21

Soniia Cheah beat Clara Azurmendi 21-14, 21-18

Doubles

Chow Mei Kuan-Lee Meng Yean beat Beatriz Corrales-Lorena Usle 21-12, 21-7

Amelia Alicia Anscelly-Woon Khe Wei beat Clara Azurmendi-Laia Oset 21-12, 21-13

GROUP B

USA beat Mauritius 5-0

GROUP D

Japan beat India 3-2

(Japan first)

Singles

Nozomi Okuhara lost to Saina Nehwal 18-21, 6-21

Akane Yamaguchi lost to P.V. Sindhu 11-21, 18-21

Sayaka Sato beat Ruthvika Shiveni Gadde 21-7, 21-14

Doubles

Misaki Matsutomo-Ayaka Takahashi beat Jwala Gutta-Sikki Reddy Nelakurihi 21-11, 21-8

Shizuka Matsuo-Mami Naito beat Ashwini Ponnappa-P.V. Sindhu 15-21, 21-19, 21-16

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