SUHANDINATA CUP - China, Malaysia stay on track

Neither is China unduly worried about the 3-1 loss suffered at the hands of Malaysia – their likely opponents in the final – at the Asian Junior Championships in June this year.

China coach Liu Xinmin has just one aim – to win the Suhandinata Cup, and that message has been transmitted to his players loud and clear.

“We came here to win the title (Suhandinata Cup),” said Xinmin after China’s 4-1 win over Indonesia at the Sultan Abdul Halim Stadium in Kedah, Malaysia.

“Having said that, the players are under no pressure as they are here to learn as much as possible from playing in such tournaments.”

China, the No 1 seed, top Group W after winning all their ties, wrapping up the preliminary round with a 4-1 win over Russia and Indonesia respectively on Saturday.China will take on Thailand in the semi-final on Sunday.

In the tie against Indonesia, China dropped a point via the boy’s doubles when Lu Kai-Liu Peixuan were beaten by Rendy Sugiarto-Angga Partama 12-21, 18-21.

Despite the early setback, China came back with a vengeance to claim the next four matches through Chen Xiaojia (girl’s singles), Tian Houwei (boy’s singles), Tan Jinhua-Xia Huan (girl’s doubles) and Lu Kai-Bao Yixin (mixed doubles).

No 2 seeds Malaysia, the reigning Asian champions, beat Japan 3-2 to seal their place as Group Z leaders with the winning point coming from Tee Jing Yi in the girl’s singles.

“Whilst there was some pressure to deliver the winning point, I believed in myself and was confident of winning the match,” said Jing Yi after her 21-18, 21-11 win over Minatsu Mitani.

“I am also grateful to the fans for their great support and it added to my confidence.”

Malaysia other points came via Chooi Kah Ming-Ng Hui Ern in the girl’s doubles and Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin in the boy’s singles.

The Malaysians, however, will play Chinese Taipei in the semi-final, and not India, the No 3 seeds.

Chinese Taipei defied the odds to beat India 3-2, thanks to some inspired play from their girls.

Sai Praneet (boy’s singles) and Praneet-P. Chopra (boy’s doubles) duly delivered the points but Siki Reddy was upset by Po Pai Yu 16-21, 18-21 to put Chinese Taipei back in the game.

In the mixed doubles, Hsun Yang Chi-Ting Wu Yun beat Sawant Prajakta-P. Chopra 21-17, 15-21, 21-19 while Ting Wu Yun-Kao Hua gave Chinese Taipei the winning point in the girl’s doubles when they beat Sikki Reddy-P.C. Thulasi 20-22, 21-12, 21-17.

Posted by Lucas Liau on 12:33 PM. Filed under News . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0