Malaysia out of Asia Cup badminton

Twice runners-up Malaysia crashed out of the Asia Cup badminton championship after suffering their second successive defeat in the tournament on Friday.

On Thursday, they were shocked by late entrants Thailand 1-2, and on Friday, it was the Chinese, strong contenders for the title this time, who beat them by a similar margin in their final group match.

The result meant that Malaysia finished third in Group B.

Thus, Thailand and China, from Group B, and Indonesia and Korea, from Group A, made it to Saturday's semi-finals.

Chen Hong gave China the lead in the best-of-three rubber, beating Ong Ewe Hock 15-8, 16,17, 15-12 in the opening singles. It was 2-0 for China when Zhang Jun and Zhang Wei took the doubles rather comfortably, beating Chew and Chan 15-6, 15-7.

With the match wrapped up, Wong Choong Hann gave Malaysia a consolation victory by beating Chen Yu, in the final rubber, 15-1, 15-8.

In the other group match, Thailand, who were already assured of a berth in the last four, played at half pace and surrendered meekly to Japan 0-3. It was Japan's first win in the championship.

Friday's Group A clash between Korea and Indonesia was supposed to be the feature event. But with both teams having made it to the semi-finals, and looking good enough to clash in the final, it turned to be a lacklustre affair, with the Indonesians winning 2-1 after losing the opening singles.

The semi-finals line up is: Indonesia vs China, and Korea vs Thailand.

Results

Group A:
Hong Kong bt Singapore 2-1: Hariyanto (HKG) bt Susilo (SIN) 15-12, 15-5; Liu/Njoto (HKG) bt Lau/Santosa 15-13, 15-9; Wijaya (SIN) bt Tam (HKG) 14-17, 15-12, 15-12.

Indonesia beat Korea 2-1: Lee (KOR) bt Hidayat (INA) 15-3, 15-7; Budiarto/Wijaya (INA) Yoo/Chung (KOR) 15-9, 15-2; Hendrawan (INA) bt Shon (KOR) 15-6, 15-7.

Group B:
China bt Malaysia 2-1: Chen (CHN) bt Ong (MAS) 15-8, 16-17, 15-12; Zhang/Zhang (CHN) bt Chang/Chew (MAS) 15-6, 15-7; Wong (MAS) bt Chen Yu 15-1, 15-8.

Japan bt Thailand 3-0: Yamada (JPN) bt Polsana (THA) 15-5, 15-10; Katayama/Kubota (JPN) bt Teerawiwanata/Panvisvas 15-8, 15-8; Masuda (JPN) bt Thiraratsakul (THA) 15-8, 15-4.

Thursday's results:
Group A
Indonesia bt Hong Kong 3-0: Hidayat (INA) bt Hariyanto (HKG) 15-8, 15-7; Budiarto/Wijaya (INA) bt Liu/Njoto (HKG) 15-6, 15-5; Hendrawan (INA) bt Tam (HKG) 11-15, 15-8, 15-7.

Korea bt Singapore 2-1: Lee (KOR) bt Susilo (SIN) 15-7, 15-13; Yoo/Lee (KOR) bt Lau/Santoso (SIN) 15-8, 15-9; Wijaya (SIN) bt Shon (KOR) 15-13, 10-15, 15-12.

Group B
Thailand bt Malaysia 2-1
Ponsana (THA) bt Wong (MAS) bt Wong (MAS) 5-15, 15-10, 15-10; Teerawiwanata/Panvisvas (THA) bt Chang/Chew (MAS) 17-16, 15-12; Yong (MAS) bt Thiraratsakul (THA) 15-11, 15-9.

China bt Japan 3-0
Chen Hong (CHN) bt S.Ohtsuka (JPN) 15-6, 15-8; Zhang/Zhang (CHN) bt Katayama/Kubota (JPN) 15-12, 15-3; Chen Yu (CHN) bt Ohtsuka (JPN) 15-8, 15-12.

Final Standings:
Group A: 1. Indonesia, 2. Korea, 3. Hong Kong, 4. Singapore.
Group B: 1. Thailand, 2. China, 3. Malaysia, 4. Japan.