Malaysia out to stop China from winning 12th world junior title

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia are ready to stop China from winning the world junior mixed team title for the 12th time after outclassing South Korea 3-0 in the semi- finals of the World Junior Championships in Yogjakarta, Indonesia.

Malaysia, still rankled by last year’s 3-0 loss to China in the final in Bilbao, Spain, needed just one hour and 24 minutes to see off South Korea at the Among Rogo sports arena yesterday.

Ng Eng Cheong-Tan Sueh Jeou gave Malaysia the first point against South Korea when they defeated Jeong-min-Kim Seongje 21-9, 21-12 in the mixed doubles.

Leong Jun Hao then downed Kim Dong-ju 21-6, 21-19 for the second point before 2015 world junior champion and world No. 40 Goh Jin Wei clinched the winning point with a 21-16, 21-19 win over An Se-young in the girls’ singles.

China dropped one match en route to a 3-1 win over Japan in their semi-final clash.

Malaysia will go into the final on a high, having not lost any of their matches so far.

Jin Wei, who suffered a hamstring injury at last year’s edition, is fitter this time while Jun Hao is all fired up after emerging as the Asian junior champion in July.

There is also more depth in the doubles.

Malaysia can field any of one these players – Man Wei Chong, Kwek Jian Yee, Chang Yee Jun and Ng Eng Cheong – in the boys’ doubles and still hope for a good result.

Malaysia will also be banking on national Under-18 girls’ doubles champions Pearly Tan Koong Le-Toh Ee Wei to end their six-year wait for the title.

Malaysia have only won it once – in Taiwan in 2011.

“We have reached the final again. I hope my teammates will fight all the way to bring the title back to Malaysia,” said the 17-year-old Ee Wei, who is making her second consecutive appearance in the tournament.

“There is no pressure on us as China are the favourites.”

National coach Kwan Yoke Meng prefers to remain cautious, saying “it will all depend on adopting the right strategy”.

“I feel that our players didn’t go all out against the Koreans today. The Koreans had only four players in their team. They were a spent force and we were fortunate to seal a 3-0 win,” said Yoke Meng.

“We are banking on two singles and one doubles to upstage China.”