SHAH ALAM (Selangor, Malaysia), Feb 18 (NNN-Bernama) — The Malaysian second stringers smashed minnows Kazakhstan 5-0 to advance into the Badminton Asia Team Championships (BATC) 2022 semi-finals, as well as qualify for the Thomas Cup.
Despite resting top singles shuttlers, Lee Zii Jia, Ng Tze Yong and Leong Jun Hao as well as top doubles pair, Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik, who helped Malaysia hammer Singapore 5-0 on Wednesday, the youngsters managed to live up to the occasion by trouncing Kazakhstan, which is better known for other sports like boxing and weightlifting.
The 22-year-old Aidil Sholeh Ali Sadikin, 22, got the ball rolling at the Setia City Convention Centre here, defeating 29-year-old Artur Niyazov 21-11, 21-12.
Another youngster, Lim Chong King doubled the score by beating Khaitmurat Kulmatov 21-11, 21-11, while the youngest member in the team, Jacky Kok Jing Hong, 20, confirmed the winning point for Malaysia, thrashing Makhsut Tajibullayev 21-8, 21-4.
The remaining last two doubles matches were like a stroll in the park for Malaysia, as Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun won against Jangir Ibrayey-Ilya Lysenko 21-5, 21-5 in just 17 minutes, while Goh Sze Fei- Nur Izzuddin Mohd Rumsani defeated Andrey Shalagin-Tajibullayey 21-8, 21-4 in 15 minutes to conclude with the perfect 5-0 win.
In another Group B fixture, Singapore overcame Japan 3-2.
Malaysia and Japan will face off Friday, while Singapore will take on Kazakhstan to decide the group winners and another spot for the semi-finals.
The Malaysia’s national women’s team had also cruised into the semi-finals after winning 3-2 against defending champions Japan on Tuesday and India on Wednesday.
The draw for the last four stage is expected to be held on Friday night.
The top four teams (men’s and women’s) in BATC will automatically qualify for the 2022 Thomas and Uber Cup finals to be held in Bangkok, Thailand in May.
— NNN-BERNAMA