Malaysia remain positive despite tough world junior meet draw

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia are set to face top seeds China in the quarter-finals of the mixed team event at the World Junior Championships in Markham, Canada, from Nov 5-11.

But they are not unsettled despite the tough draw.

Malaysia were the runners-up to China in the last two editions.

Malaysia should top Group B without any problems by beating Ukraine, Poland, Canada and Sweden while China, who swept 12 titles in 15 editions since the tournament’s inception in 2000, should win Group A.

The winners from both groups are expected to clash in the quarter-finals.

Badminton Association of Malaysia ( BAM) development committee chairman David Wee

believes Malaysia, powered by the return of national No. 1 women’s singles shuttler Goh Jin Wei, do have a fighting chance.

The others in the team are Eoon Qi Xuan, Pearly Tan Koong Le-Toh Ee Wei (girls) and Ng Tze Yong, Aidil Sholeh Ali Sadikin, Choong Hon Jian, Chua Yue Chern, Lwi Sheng Hao, Yap Roy King and Chia Wei Jie (boys).

“We could not have asked for a tougher draw than this,” said David.

“They are the top seeds and no one wants to face them.

“While many may think that we are staring at a quarter-finals exit, I don’t think we should be pessimistic ... not even before trying.

“I believe we stand a chance of toppling China through Jin Wei, Pearly-Ee Wei (girls’ doubles) and Wei Jie-Pearly (mixed doubles).”

Jin Wei was not with the team that won bronze at the Asian Junior Championships in Jakarta two months ago. Malaysia have only won the mixed team event once in 2011 in Taiwan.