Malaysia to battle defending champs China at Asian Juniors
The national squad finished second in Group B after going down 110-92 to hosts Indonesia at the Manahan Indoor Stadium in Surakarta on Sunday.
The defeat sets up a tough last-eight clash with China — the same side that ended Malaysia's run in the semi-finals last year in Yogyakarta.
Malaysia's only win against Indonesia came through girls' doubles pair Dania Sofea Zaidi-Low Zi Yu, who defeated Riska Anggraini-Rinjani Kwinara Nastine 11-9.
However, the rest of the team failed to deliver.
Team manager Leong Kin Weng, who is also the Penang BA president, admitted Indonesia were the better side.
"However, a few of our players did not perform as we had expected," he said when contacted."
"Malaysia face a stern test against China, who are once again among the title favourites.
"It will be very tough," added Kin Weng.
In the other quarter-final ties, Thailand take on Hong Kong, Indonesia play South Korea, while Japan face India.
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The Star
3 days ago
- The Star
Malaysia miss out on medal, but Boon Le can smile
PETALING JAYA: Shuttler Lim Boon Le (pic) impressed against China in the quarter-finals of the Asian Junior Championships mixed team event but it was not enough to prevent Malaysia from suffering defeat. The 17-year-old Boon Le did well to beat Xiao Gaobo 11-9 in the opening boys' singles match but all his teammates went down in their respective matches, resulting in the team losing 64-110 in Solo, Indonesia, yesterday. Malaysia had to face defending champions and Group C winners China in the last eight after losing 92-110 to hosts Indonesia in their last Group B match a day earlier. The exit meant that the team could not match their bronze medal win last year in Yogyakarta. The defeats to Indonesia and China also showed that the junior coaches had work to do to help the youngsters close the gap to the two nations. Team manager Leong Kin Weng acknowledged that China proved too strong for Malaysia but believes that the players gained valuable experience ahead of the individual event which starts tomorrow. 'I saw that Boon Le performed well in today's (yesterday) match. The rest of players also tried hard but China is simply too strong. 'Overall, I think this is a good exposure for our young players. I still hope that they will perform well in the coming individual event.' Malaysia also did not win a medal in the mixed team event in the 2023 edition which was also held in Yogyakarta. The last time the team won the title was in 2009 at home in Kuala Lumpur. In the individual event, World Junior Championships girls' doubles silver medallists Dania Sofea Zaidi-Low Zi Yu will be one of Malaysia's best bet for a medal. RESULTS Quarter-finals China bt Malaysia 110-64 (Xiao Gaobo lost to Lim Boon Le 9-11; Xu Wenjing bt Eng Ler Qi 22-17; Chen Fan Shutian-Tan Kexuan bt Dania Sofea Zaidi-Low Zi Yu 33-27; Li Hongyi-Cao Zihan bt Loh Ziheng-Nuraqilah Maisarah Ramdan 44-30; Chen Junting-Liu Junrong bt Damien Ling-Mohd Shazmir Irfan 55-39; Liu Yang Mingyu bt Kong Wei Xiang 66-44; Yin Yiqing bt Lim Zhi Shin 77-48; Chen Fan Shutian-Tan Kexuan bt Dania Sofea Zaidi-Low Zi Yu 88-56; Junting-Junrong bt Ziheng-Ahmad Redzuan Zulwaqqarizal 110-64); Thailand bt Hong Kong 110-98; Japan bt India 110-104; South Korea bt Indonesia 110-109.
The Star
3 days ago
- The Star
Boon Le only bright spark as mixed team lose to China in world junior last eight
PETALING JAYA: Shuttler Lim Boon Le impressed against China in the quarter-finals of the Asian Junior Championships mixed team event but it was not enough to prevent Malaysia from suffering defeat. The 17-year-old Boon Le did well to beat Xiao Gaobo 11-9 in the opening boys' singles match but all his teammates went down in their respective matches, resulting in the team losing 64-110 in Solo, Indonesia yesterday. Malaysia had to face defending champions and Group C winners China in the last eight after losing 92-110 to hosts Indonesia in their last Group B match a day earlier. The exit meant that the team could not match their bronze medal win last year in Yogyakarta. The defeats to Indonesia and China also showed that the junior coaches had work to do to help the youngsters close the gap to the two nations. Team manager Leong Kin Weng acknowledged that China proved too strong for Malaysia but believes that the players gained valuable experience ahead of the individual event which starts tomorrow. "I saw that Boon Le performed well in today's (yesterday) match. The rest of players also tried hard but China is simply too strong. "Overall, I think this is a good exposure for our young players. I still hope that they will perform well in the coming individual event." Malaysia also did not win a medal in the mixed team event in the 2023 edition which was also held in Yogyakarta. The last time the team won the title was in 2009 at home in Kuala Lumpur. In the individual event, World Junior Championships girls' doubles silver medallists Dania Sofea Zaidi-Low Zi Yu will one of Malaysia's best bet for a medal. RESULTS Quarter-finals China bt Malaysia 110-64 (Xiao Gaobo lost to Lim Boon Le 9-11; Xu Wenjing bt Eng Ler Qi 22-17; Chen Fan Shutian-Tan Kexuan bt Dania Sofea Zaidi-Low Zi Yu 33-27; Li Hongyi-Cao Zihan bt Loh Ziheng-Nuraqilah Maisarah Ramdan 44-30; Chen Junting-Liu Junrong bt Damien Ling-Mohd Shazmir Irfan 55-39; Liu Yang Mingyu bt Kong Wei Xiang 66-44; Yin Yiqing bt Lim Zhi Shin 77-48; Chen Fan Shutian-Tan Kexuan bt Dania Sofea Zaidi-Low Zi Yu 88-56; Junting-Junrong bt Ziheng-Ahmad Redzuan Zulwaqqarizal 110-64); Thailand bt Hong Kong 110-98; Japan bt India 110-104; South Korea bt Indonesia 110-109.
New Straits Times
3 days ago
- New Straits Times
Shuttler Boon Le shines but Malaysia fall to China at Asian Juniors
KUALA LUMPUR: The BA of Malaysia (BAM) have work to do if they hope to strengthen their youth set-up, after the national team failed to secure a medal in the mixed team event at the Badminton Asia Junior Championships in Surakarta, Indonesia. Malaysia were knocked out in the quarter-finals on Monday, falling 110-64 to defending champions China at the Manahan Indoor Stadium. There was early hope when 17-year-old Lim Boon Le edged Xiao Gao Bo 11-9 in the opening boys' singles match, giving Malaysia a surprise lead. But that was as good as it got. From there, the junior shuttlers struggled to cope with China's firepower and failed to win another match. Team manager Leong Kin Weng praised Boon Le's fighting spirit but admitted the gulf in class was too much to bridge. "Boon Le performed very well in his win, and so did the other players, but China are just too strong," said Kin Weng. "Overall, our players gained valuable exposure from the mixed team event. Hopefully, they will do better in the individual competition." The individual events begin on Wednesday. This year's result means Malaysia fall short of last year's effort in Yogyakarta, when they reached the semi-finals and bagged a bronze medal. They also exited in the quarter-finals at the 2023 edition, also in Yogyakarta, where they lost to Thailand. Malaysia last won the mixed team title in 2009 on home soil. RESULTS Q-FINALS Malaysia 64 China 110 (Lim Boon Le bt Xiao Gao Bo 11-9; Kong Wei Xiang lost to Liu Yang Ming Yu, Damien Ling-Irfan Shazmir lost to Chen Jun Ting-Liu Jun Rong 11-9, Loh Ziheng-Ahmad Redzuan Zulwawaqqarizal Ahmad lost to Jun Ting-Jun Rong 11-4; Eng Ler Qi lost to Xu Wen Jing 13-6, Lim Zhi Shin lost to Yin Yi Qing 11-4, Dania Sofea Zaidi-Low Zi Yu lost to Chen Fan Shu Tian-Tan Ke Xuan 11-10; Dania Sofea Zaidi-Low Zi Yu lost to Fan Shu Tian-Ke Xuan 11-8, Loh Ziheng-Noraqilah Maisarah Ramdan lost to Hong Yi Li-Cao Zi Han 11-3, Loh Ziheng-Noraqilah Maisarah Ramdan lost to Hong Yi Li-Cao Zi Han 11-4); Thailand 110 Hong Kong 98, South Korea 110 Indonesia 109, Japan 110 India 104.
