MALAYSIA 0 CHINA 3
China terlalu ampuh untuk Malaysia meneruskan kempen di Vietnam apabila tunduk kepada kuasa besar itu 0-3 dalam saingan suku akhir Kejohanan Badminton Berpasukan Campuran Asia di Bandaraya Ho Chi Minh, malam ini.
Peluang buat skuad negara tidak dinafikan tipis tatkala membariskan pemain pelapis berbanding China yang mempertaruhkan pemain handalan dan digeruni di peringkat antarabangsa.
Tetapi Malaysia tetap melangkah masuk ke gelanggang dengan membawa sedikit keyakinan untuk mencipta kejutan, dengan beregu campuran Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Jemie Lai membuka tirai pertemuan.
Pasangan negara itu hampir menemui rentak berdepan Chen Qingchen-Zhang Nan, bagaimanapun, terpaksa akur tewas, 14-21, 9-21.
Cabaran seterusnya dipikul perseorangan lelaki, Lim Chi Wing, yang turut bergelut menentang Shi Yuqi -- hanya 32 minit diperlukan Yuqi untuk China menjadikan kedudukan 2-0 hasil kemenangan 21-7, 21-14.
Keputusan itu, bagaimanapun, tidak melunturkan semangat beregu lelaki, Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Mohd Rumsani, yang berupaya memberi tentangan sengit untuk mengheret perlawanan ke aksi tiga set sebelum tewas, 21-19, 20-22, 10-21.
"Sebelum perlawanan memang teruja kerana dapat bertemu mereka (China) tetapi apabila masuk ke gelanggang, boleh rasa perbezaan di antara pemain nombor satu dan kami. Bagaimanapun, kami gembira kerana dapat bermain dengan mereka," kata Shevon.
"Mereka lebih konsisten daripada kami. Mereka pun lebih pantas daripada kami. Saya akur dengan kekalahan ini," kata Soon Huat.
Keputusan itu menamatkan cabaran Malaysia di Vietnam.
Public Anonymous User
Fri Feb 17 2017
Carragher says Liverpool may need to move on from Salah and Nunez
Jurgen Klopp's final season at Liverpool is threatening to fizzle out, in part due to a loss of form from his forwards.
Guardiola insists Man City share same title hunger as challengers
Manchester City are in control of the Premier League title race, with two games in hand over leaders Arsenal and second-placed Liverpool.
NBA: Heat get even with Celtics; Thunder roll Pelicans for 2-0 lead
The Heat sank a franchise playoff-record 23 3-pointers to tie the Celtics 1-1 and the Thunder cruised to a 2-0 lead over the Pelicans
Van Dijk: Liverpool have 'no chance' in title race after derby defeat
Van Dijk: Defeat dents title hopes
Coventry City 2-3 Hull City: Tigers win five-goal thriller to keep play-off hopes alive
Hull City boosted their play-off hopes, and all but ended those of Coventry City, with a huge win on Wednesday.
Howe: Newcastle performance in Palace defeat 'way off' Spurs win
Howe: Newcastle fell way short
Dyche challenges Everton to 'go and do it again' after crucial derby victory
Dyche asks Everton to 'go again'
Man Utd matchwinner Fernandes: Criticism part of the job
Fernandes shrugs off criticism
Atalanta 4-1 Fiorentina (4-2 aggregate): Gasperini's team into Coppa Italia final
Report: Atalanta 4-1 Fiorentina
Premier League record falls as 2023-24 becomes most goal-laden 20-team season
Harry Maguire found the net against his former club Sheffield United on Wednesday, making a piece of Premier League history in the process.