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Acid Test For Malaysian Shuttlers To Qualify For Thomas Cup Finals


KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 30 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Thomas Cup squad will face the 'acid test' in their efforts to qualify for the Thomas Cup finals in Wuhan, China in May, after being drawn together with South Korea and Hong Kong.

The three countries were drawn in Group D of the Asian Zone qualifying rounds which will be held in Macau from Feb 13-19.

Based on the seeding for the Thomas Cup qualifying released by the Badminton Asia Confederation (BAC) today, South Korea is the second seed while Malaysia is fifth.

Malaysian singles ace Datuk Lee Chong Wei is world number one men's singles while South Korean top singles, Lee Hyun Il, is world number eight.

The other Malaysian men's singles are Muhammad Hafiz Hashim (33) and Liew Darren at number 45.

South Korean second singles is Park Sung Hwan (15) and their third singles, Shon Wan Ho (19).

Malaysia's major obstacles are South Korean top pair and world number two, Jung Jae Sung/Lee Yong Dae. Our top duo, Koo Kien Keat/Tan Boon Heong, are at the sixth spot.

South Korea second pair is Ko Sung Hyun/Yoo Yeon Seong (4) while Lim Khim Wah/Goh V Shem (33) are Malaysia's second pair.

Malaysia will open their campaign against Hong Kong on Feb 14, and meet South Korea, the following day.

Only four tickets are slotted for the Asian Zone qualifiers which has four groups.

The top two teams in each group will advance to the quarter-finals. Meanwhile, the four losing quarter-finalists will play in a round-robin play-off to determine the last qualifier.

China are already guaranteed their place by virtue of being the defending champions, leaving South Korea, Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan and Thailand to slug it out as the ranked contenders.

Besides Chong Wei, Muhammad Hafiz and Liew Darren, the other men's singles are Mohd Arif Abdul Latif while Hoon Thien How/Toe Kok Siang make up Malaysia's third pairs.

Malaysia have failed to qualify for the finals only twice, in 1973 and 1979.

For the Uber Cup Preliminary Asia Zone, however, the Malaysian women's team might face an early exit when drawn against defending champion China and India.

The Uber Cup squad comprises singles players Tee Ji Ying, sisters Lydia and Sonia Cheah, and Sannnatasah Saniru while the doubles would be represented by Chin Ee Hui, Wong Pei Tty, Woon Khe Wei, Vivian Hoo Goh Liu Ying and Lim Yin Loo.

THOMAS CUP

Group A : China, Taiwan, and Vietnam

Group B : Indonesia, India, Singapore and Macau

Group C : Japan, Thailand, Sri Lanka and Kazakhstan

Group D : South Korea, MALAYSIA and Hong Kong

UBER CUP

Group W : China, India and MALAYSIA

Group X : Taiwan, Singapore and Vietnam

Group Y : Thailand, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Kazakhstan

Group Z : Japan, Hong Kong and Macau
By Nursyabiha Sukri
-- BERNAMA

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