CHINA REMAIN ON COURSE, MALAYSIA JOIN LAST FOUR
CHINA stayed on course in the quest for their 11th Thomas Cup title after defeating defending champions India in today’s quarterfinals to set up a semifinal clash against Malaysia in Chengdu on Saturday.
Both China and five-time champion Malaysia stormed into Saturday’s semifinals after winning over India and Japan respectively with similar scores of 3-1.
China had taken a 2-0 lead through its star shuttler Shi Yu Qi who was forced into a 66-minute three-game duel before defeating Prannoy H.S. 15-21, 21-11, 21-14.
Top pair Liang Wei Keng/Wang Chang then lived up to their billing as the current world No.1 after getting the better of arch-rival Satwiksairaj Rankireddy/Chirag Shetty, also in a rubber game encounter which ended in the Chinese winning 21-15, 11-21, 21-12.
However, world No.13 Laksya Sen kept India’s hopes alive after defeating world No.6 Li Shi Feng in another 70-minute rubber game battle which ended 13-21, 21-8, 21-14.
However, Hi Ji Teng/Ren Xian Yu stepped up to secure the tie in favour of the host, dumping Druv Kapila/Sai Pratheek 21-10,21-10 in just 34 minutes.
Malaysia, the five-time champion, shocked Japan with a 3-1 victory to storm into their first Thomas Cup semifinals in eight years. Malaysia last qualified for the semifinals in 2016, only to lose to Denmark.
It was a performance which came at the right time as star shuttler Lee Zii Jia produced a commanding display to demolish Kenta Nishimoto 21-13, 21-3 in just 33 minutes. World No.37 Leong Jun Hao stepped up to put Malaysia back in the lead with a convincing 21-13, 21-10 win over Koki Watanabe after Aaron Chia/Soh Wooi Yik had lost to Takuro Hoki/Yugo Kobayashi.
Goh Sze Fei/Nur Izzudin was the toast of the Malaysian camp when they stepped up to ensure Malaysia’s path into the last four was cleared with a thrilling 18-21, 21-15, 21-12 win over Akira Koga/Taichi Saito.
Another two quarterfinal matches are scheduled tomorrow with Chinese Taipei taking on Denmark while Korea will clash against 14-time champion Indonesia.
QUARTERFINAL RESULTS
China bt India 3-1
Shi Yu Qi bt Prannoy H.S. 15-21, 21-11, 21-14
Liang Wei Keng/Wang Chang bt Satwiksairaj Rankireddy/Chirag Shetty 21-15, 11-21, 21-12
Lakshya Sen bt Li Shi Feng 13-21, 21-8, 21-14
He Ji Ting/Ren Xiang Yu bt Druv Kapila/sai Pratheek 21-10, 21-10.
Malaysia bt Japan 3-1
Lee Zii Jia bt Kenta Nishimoto 21-13, 21-3
Takuro Hoki/Yugo Kobayashi bt Aaron Chia/Soh Wooi Yik 18-21, 21-14, 21-19
Leong Jun Hao bt Koki Watanabe 21-13, 21-10
Goh Sze Fei/Nur Izzuddin bt Akira Koga/Taichi Saito 18-21, 21-15, 21-12
