KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian men's badminton team routed Kazakhstan 5-0 in their opening Group B tie of the Badminton Asia Team Championships in Manila today.
National No 1 Lee Zii Jia started by crushing Dimitriy Panarin 21-6, 21-12 while Cheam June Wei doubled Malaysia’s lead with a 21-15, 21-11 win over Artur Niyazov.
Former Asian junior champion Leong Jun Hao then secured Malaysia’s third point with a comfortable 21-13, 21-13 win over Khaitmurat Kulmatov.
In the doubles, Sea Games champions Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik downed Niyazov-Panarin 21-11, 21-11.
Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani then took to court to complete the drubbing with a 21-9, 21-4 triumph over Nikita Bragin-Kulmatov.