M’sian women shuttlers fall to defending champions South Korea

Defending champions South Korea had to dig deep before defeating Malaysia’s women’s badminton team in their quarter-final at the Asian Games team event today.

The South Koreans, among the favourites for the gold medal, won 3-1 to book their place in the semi-finals.

World champion An Se Young gave South Korea the first point, beating K Letshanaa 21-12, 21-8 in 33 minutes at the Ichinomiya City Municipal Gymnasium in Aichi, Japan.

World No 5 women’s doubles pair Pearly Tan-M Thinaah kept Malaysia’s hopes alive with a stunning 22-20, 21-17 victory over world No 2 pair Baek Ha Na-Lee So Hee in a 58-minute match.

South Korea regained the lead in the third match after Kim Ga Eun beat Wong Ling Ching 21-12, 21-18 in 35 minutes.

Malaysia’s second doubles pair Cheng Su Yin-Low Zi Yu, playing their first match together, fought hard but lost 21-18, 11-21, 22-24 to Jeong Na Eun-Kim Hye Jeong in a 67-minute match, handing South Korea the victory.

The national men’s team will take on arch-rivals Indonesia in the quarter-finals later today.