KUALA LUMPUR: The odds are firmly against Malaysia as they prepare to take on hosts and tournament favourites China in the quarter-finals of the Sudirman Cup in Xiamen on Friday.
The tie heavily favours China – not just because of their rich history in the competition, but also due to the sheer depth and firepower in their current squad.
China are the most decorated nation in Sudirman Cup history, having won 13 titles since the tournament’s inception in 1989.
Since first lifting the trophy in 1995, they have only failed to win it twice in the last 15 editions and are currently chasing their fourth consecutive title since 2019.
Remarkably, they have never finished outside the top four.
On paper, China appear too strong for Malaysia across most disciplines – with perhaps the men’s doubles offering the only realistic shot at a point.
Both world No. 2 Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani and world No. 4 Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik are capable of challenging world No. 3 Liang Wei Keng-Wang Chang.
The Chinese line-up features world No. 1 players in men’s singles (Shi Yu Qi), women’s doubles (Liu Sheng Shu-Tan Ning), and mixed doubles (Jiang Zhen Bang-Wei Ya Xin).
In women’s singles, they have world No. 2 Wang Zhi Yi — and that’s not even accounting for their Olympic champions.
China’s bench depth is even more intimidating, with the likes of Paris-bound gold medal favourites Jia Yi Fan-Chen Qing Chen (world No. 7 women’s doubles) and Chen Yu Fei (world No. 7 women’s singles) available as reinforcements.
The match order is likely to follow this sequence: mixed doubles, men’s singles, women’s singles, men’s doubles, and women’s doubles. This means Malaysia must win the mixed doubles opener to avoid an early 3-0 whitewash.
World No. 26 Leong Jun Hao has been in inspired form — highlighted by his stunning win over Japan’s world No. 8 Kodai Naraoka on Thursday.
But taking on Yu Qi, in their first career meeting, will be a daunting challenge.
If Malaysia go 0-2 down, it’s hard to see them staying alive in the women’s singles, where neither Goh Jin Wei nor K. Letshanaa look equipped to stop Wang Zhi Yi or Chen Yu Fei.
That puts tremendous pressure on the mixed doubles pair – be it world No. 4 Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei or the more experienced Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie — to deliver early.
Only if Malaysia take that opening point can they dare to dream of a comeback via men’s doubles, which could, in turn, fuel Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah’s belief to produce a miracle in the final match.
Failure to overcome China would mean the end of the road for Malaysia – and with it, their hopes of repeating the bronze-medal feat achieved in the last two editions in Vantaa (2021) and Suzhou (2023).
Probable lineups (world ranking in brackets)
Mixed doubles: Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei (4) vs Jiang Zhen Bang-Wei Ya Xin (1)
Men’s singles: Leong Jun Hao (26) vs Shi Yu Qi (1)
Women’s singles: Goh Jin Wei (43) vs Chen Yu Fei (7)
Men’s doubles: Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani (2) vs Wang Chang-Liang Wei Keng (3)
Women’s doubles: Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah (5) vs Chen Qing Chen-Jia Yi Fan (7)
Past meetings
1999: China 4 Malaysia 1 (group stage)
2007: China 4 Malaysia 1 (group stage)
2009: China 3 Malaysia 0 (semi-finals)
2019: China 5 Malaysia 0 (group stage)
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
