CHENGDU: It comes as no surprise as Malaysia once again exited early from the Uber Cup following a 0-5 drubbing by 2018 runner-up, Thailand, in their second Group B fixture at the Chengdu High-Tech Zone Sports Centre, here yesterday.
In yesterday’s match, Malaysia fielded second singles K. Letshanaa as the main singles player, replacing Goh Jin Wei after the former two-time world junior champion was rested while Siti Nurshuhaini Azman was called on to play as the third singles.
After a courageous display in the first set, Letshanaa experienced a dip in form and suffered a straight sets loss to Supanida Katethong, 17-21, 6-21, that put Thailand ahead after the first match.
Letshanaa, ranked 68th, said she could not keep up with the world number 16 opponent in the vast majority of second set.
“In the second set, Supanida changed her game and that is why I could not control and produced shots that I intend to which had affected my confidence level,” she told reporters at the mixed zone.
Thailand went 2-0 up when the country’s main women’s doubles led by team captain Teoh Mei Xing and Go Pei Kee, succumbed to world number 10 pair Jongkolphan Kititharakul-Rawinda Projingai, 10-21, 14-21, in 33-minutes.
Mei Xing was disappointed on their failure to earn a point for Malaysia after giving their all against the Thais and lost for the first time here.
On Sunday, the scratch duo contributed Malaysia’s only point in the 1-4 loss to Taiwan, following an upset over Hsu Ya Ching-Lin Wan Ching 21-19, 21-17, in the Group B opener.
World number 18, Pornpawee Chochuwong dashed any hope of a Malaysian comeback as she rose to the occasion to secure the third point for her country after dispatching Wong Ling Ching, 21-11, 21-15 in straight games.
Thailand continued their dominance when Laksika Kanlaha-Phataimas Muenwong took just 29-minutes to see off Chan Wen Tse-Tan Zhing Yi, 21-12, 21-8 while Busanan Ongbamrungphan concluded a fine day for them as she outclassed Siti Nurshuhaini Azman 21-5, 21-8.
Though a series of mistakes during the game took a toll on her performance, Siti Nurshuhaini viewed the painful loss as an opportunity to improve her gameplay.
The big win over Malaysia meant Thailand, who opened their campaign with a 5-0 win against Australia yesterday, made the cut to the quarterfinals.
Taiwan will join Thailand to the last eight as they triumphed 4-1 over Australia earlier today.
Malaysia, who last appeared in the last eight 14 years ago, are slated to end their campaign against Australia while Thailand will determine the group champions against Taiwan, this Wednesday.
Uber Cup 2024 will run until May 5.
Meanwhile in the Thomas Cup, powerhouse Indonesia are aiming for their 15th title after defeating Thailand 4-1 in the second round of group stage yesterday.
Star pair Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Rian Ardianto were upset by Thailand’s Peeratchai Sukphun and Pakkapon Teeraratsakul, but Indonesian shuttlers dominated their opponents in the other four matches.
Indonesian ace Anthony Sinisuka Ginting didn’t meet world champion Kunlavut Vitidsarn in the duel between the two sides’ first singles players. The world No 7 crushed Panitchaphon Teeraratsakul 21-16, 21-13 in 42 minutes.
Indonesia now top Group C after having won their first two group matches.
“We expected before the game that they might send their top player, but maybe they had other tactics, so we prepared a lot of different strategies,” said Ginting, adding that Indonesia has two advantages that will help them win the title.
“First of all, every one of our players is very good, such as Jonatan Christie, Alfian and Ardianto. They all got good results. Secondly, our team is very confident, we always encourage each other and never give up,” Ginting added.
Christie, who ranked third in the world and won the Asia Championships two weeks ago, was considered another ace for Indonesia.
Christie defeated Saran Jamsri 21-16, 13-21, 21-12 in Monday’s play.
Indonesia will next meet defending champion India, who swept England 5-0.
In the women’s Uber Cup, Japan whitewashed Hong Kong, China 5-0, while Chinese Taipei beat Australia 4-1.
The championships, held in Chengdu, southwest China’s Sichuan Province, marked the 33rd edition of the Thomas Cup and the 30th edition of the Uber Cup, with each tournament featuring 16 teams in four groups and taking place from April 27 to May 5.
Following are the Thomas and Uber Cup Finals 2024 group stage schedule for Tuesday (April 30):
THOMAS CUP
Group A
Canada vs Australia – 9.30 am
China vs South Korea – 5 pm
Group D
Hong Kong vs Algeria – 9.30 am
Denmark vs Malaysia – 5 pm
UBER CUP
Group A
China vs India – 9.30 am
Canada vs Singapore – 5 pm
Group D
South Korea vs Denmark – 9.30 am
USA vs Mexico – 5 pm
Following are the standings of teams in the Thomas Cup and Uber Cup 2024 after Monday’s matches played at Chengdu High-Tech Zone Sports Centre:
THOMAS CUP
Group A
| Points | Played | Won | Lost | Matches | Games | Points | |
| China | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 10-0 | 20-0 | 420-203 |
| South Korea | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 10-0 | 20-0 | 420-220 |
| Canada | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0-10 | 0-20 | 220-420 |
| Australia | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0-10 | 0-20 | 203-420 |
Group B
| Points | Played | Won | Lost | Matches | Games | Points | |
| Japan | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 10-0 | 20-1 | 440-282 |
| Taiwan | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 8-2 | 17-7 | 491-386 |
| Germany | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1-9 | 5-18 | 375-471 |
| Czech Republic | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1-9 | 3-19 | 293-460 |
Group C
| Points | Played | Won | Lost | Matches | Games | Points | |
| Indonesia | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 9-1 | 19-4 | 458-334 |
| India | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 9-1 | 18-5 | 469-368 |
| Thailand | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2-8 | 7-17 | 370-472 |
| England | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0-10 | 2-20 | 332-455 |
Group D
| Points | Played | Won | Lost | Matches | Games | Points | |
| Denmark | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 10-0 | 20-2 | 457-256 |
| Malaysia | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 10-0 | 20-2 | 456-298 |
| Hong Kong | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0-10 | 4-20 | 381-493 |
| Algeria | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0-10 | 0-20 | 173-420 |
(Note: Top two teams from each group will advance to the quarter-finals)
UBER CUP
Group A
| Points | Played | Won | Lost | Matches | Games | Points | |
| China | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 10-0 | 20-0 | 420-206 |
| India | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 8-2 | 16-4 | 411-310 |
| Canada | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1-9 | 2-18 | 274-420 |
| Singapore | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1-9 | 2-18 | 242-411 |
Group B
| Points | Played | Won | Lost | Matches | Games | Points | |
| Thailand | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 10-0 | 20-0 | 420-208 |
| Taiwan | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 8-2 | 16-5 | 424-335 |
| Malaysia | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1-9 | 3-18 | 306-429 |
| Australia | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1-9 | 2-18 | 237-415 |
Group C
| Points | Played | Won | Lost | Matches | Games | Points | |
| Japan | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 10-0 | 20-2 | 447-208 |
| Indonesia | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 10-0 | 20-2 | 450-275 |
| Hong Kong | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0-10 | 4-20 | 354-477 |
| Uganda | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0-10 | 0-20 | 129-420 |
Group D
| Points | Played | Won | Lost | Matches | Games | Points | |
| South Korea | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 10-0 | 20-0 | 420-212 |
| Denmark | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 10-0 | 20-3 | 472-280 |
| USA | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0-10 | 3-20 | 316-472 |
| Mexico | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0-10 | 0-20 | 176-420 |
(Note: Top two teams from each group will advance to the quarter-finals). – BERNAMA-XINHUA
