Malaysia Book Ticket To Thomas Cup Final

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 17 (Bernama) -- Malaysia, despite fielding their weakest team in years, advanced to the Thomas Cup Finals in Wuhan, China after beating India 3-0 in the quarter-finals of the Asia qualifiers in Macau Thursday. Team skipper Lee Chong Wei set the path for the win despite dropping a game, by beating unknown Indian first singles player Ajay Jayaram 21-12, 17-21, 21-8 in 47 minutes. Doubles pair Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong who had performed brilliantly against South Korea in the group matches, then stretched Malaysia’s lead by beating Rupesh Kumar-Sanave Thomas 21-14, 23-21. Malaysia’s winning point was delivered by former All England champion Hafiz Hashim, who beat P. Kashyap 21-17, 18- 21-18, 21-11 for his first win in the competition after two consecutive loses against opponents from Hong Kong and South Korea in the group matches. Malaysia play Japan in the semi-finals but Chong Wei and doubles pair Kien Keat-Boon Heong are expected to be rested since Malaysia had already qualified. Four Asian teams from the Macau qualifiers advance to the Thomas Cup finals in Wuhan which will comprise 12 teams. China are assured of a berth by virtue of being the defending champion and hosts of the Finals, which will be held in Wuhan from May 20-27 and the other tickets for the Finals go to Europe (four), Oceania (1), Africa (1) and Pan-America (1). Malaysia’s Uber Cup hopes, however, suffered a huge blow after losing 0-3 to Thailand, a result that means Malaysia will have to try and advance by winning a playoff that include Hong Kong, Indonesia and Singapore. In the format where all three singles were played first, Tee Jing Yi suffered a 21-8, 21-7 defeat to Ratchanok Inthanon and Porntip Buranaprasertsuk made it 2-0 by beating Lydia Cheah 21-19, 21-13 while Yang Li Lian, lost to Sapsiree Taerattanachai 12-21, 10-21. In the Uber Cup competition, only three teams will earn tickets to Wuhan from Macau since defending champion South Korea earned an automatic place. Results: Thomas Cup Lee Chong Wei bt Ajay Jayaram 21-12, 17-21, 21-8; Koo Kean Kiat/Tan Boon Heong bt Rupesh Kumar/Sanave Thomas 21-14, 23-21 Hafiz Hashim bt Kasyap Parupalli 21-17, 18-21, 21-11 Uber Cup: Tee Jing Yi lost to Ratchanok Inthanon 8-21, 7-21; Lydia Cheah lost to Porntip Buranaprasertsuk 19-21, 13-21; Yang Li Lian lost to Sapsiree Taerattanachai 12-21, 10-21. --BERNAMA