KUALA LUMPUR: In a shocking turn of events, Malaysia crashed out of the Thomas Cup in Bangkok yesterday.
Just one day after the high of stunning 2014 champions Japan 3-2 in Group D, Malaysia unexpectedly went down 3-2 to India in the quarter-finals at the Impact Arena.
One cannot help but wonder if the "strange selection" of the first doubles cost them the tie, as it was all downhill for Malaysia after Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani lost 21-19, 21-15 to India's world No 8 Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty.
Despite their impressive form this year, Sze Fei-Izzuddin do not have a good track record against the Indian duo, having won only once in nine previous meetings against the Indian pair.
Many would wonder if world No 6 Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi could have been the better option as they have a perfect 4-0 head-to-head record against Satwiksairaj-Chiraj.
Earlier, in the first singles, Lee Zii Jia had put Malaysia 1-0 ahead when he saw off India's No 1 Lakshya Sen 23-21, 21-9.
It was always going to be tough against India as they boast of three strong men's singles in world No 11 K. Srikanth and world No 23 H.S. Prannoy apart from Lakshya.
Malaysia were quickly made to pay a heavy price when World Championships silver medallist Kidambi Srikanth outplayed world No 46 Ng Tze Yong 21-11, 21-17 in the second singles to put India in front for the first time yesterday.
Malaysia's scratch combination of Aaron-Teo Ee Yi, who were on fire in the tie against Japan earlier, pulled one back for their side with a 21-19, 21-17 win over India's world No 45 Krishna Prasad Garaga-Vishnuvardhan Goud Panjala.
However, in the deciding third singles, it was uphill for Malaysia all the way as India had the upper hand.
And world No 23 H.S. Prannoy went on to rout 2017 Asian junior champion Leong Jun Hao 21-13, 21-8 to send India into their first Thomas Cup semi-finals since the 1979 edition in Jakarta.
As for Malaysia, who last lifted the coveted trophy in 1992, the long wait continues.
India will face the winners of the
Denmark-South Korea tie next for a place in Sunday's final. The other semi-final will see Japan take on defending champions Indonesia.
Thomas Cup quarter-finals results
Japan bt Taiwan 3-2
Indonesia bt China 3-0
India bt Malaysia 3-2