KUALA LUMPUR – There were no surprises in the lineup from China and Malaysia as both teams named their best players for the Thomas Cup semi-final clash at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Centre in Chengdu, China, at 5pm today.
However, Malaysia will be going into the match as underdogs because the Chinese players have a significant advantage over them.
All eyes will be on the first singles match as fan favourite Lee Zii Jia will face world number 2 Shi Yuqi.
The head-to-head record between both players favours the Chinese player as Shi Yuqi has a 4-1 advantage over Zii Jia.
In the second tie, Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik are expected to turn the tide against the world number 1 pair Liang Weikeng and Wang Chang but the former world champions have only won once in their seven encounters with the pair from China.
In the men’s second singles match, we will see Leong Jun Hao face world number 6 Li Shifeng.
Although it looks like an uphill battle for Jun Hao, it will not be impossible as the Malaysian shuttler proved his metal when he turned the tie back in Malaysia’s favour in the quarter-finals against Japan on Thursday, defeating higher-ranked Koki Watanabe 21-13, 21-10.
China has opted to go with He Jiting-Ren Xiangyu in the second doubles match. They will play Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani.
World number 11 Jiting-Xiangyu delivered China’s winning point against India in their quarter-final tie.
However, Malaysia’s world number 15 pair has a 1-0 record over Jiting-Xiangyu with their last meeting coming in the second round of the recent Badminton Asia Championships in Ningbo last month.
The Chinese pair withdrew from the clash after losing the first set 21-11, and Sze Fei-Izzuddin went on to finish the tournament as runners-up.
If the match goes down to the wire, then Justin Hoh will be tasked to overcome world number 19 Lu Guangzu to put Malaysia in the final tomorrow.
The last time Malaysia defeated China at the Thomas Cup was 22 years ago in 2002, also in the semi-final stage.
Malaysian went on to lose the final to Indonesia 3-0 in Guangzhou, China. – May 4, 2024