KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's hopes of challenging for the boys' singles podium in the Asian Junior Championships were dealt a massive blow after second seed Eogene Ewe bowed out in the third round on Thursday.
Eogene was outclassed 21-16, 21-8 by China's Zhang Zhi Jie, marking a dominant day with all five Chinese players storming into the last 16 in Yogjakarta.
The other four players are Zhang Ning, Wang Zi Jun, Hu Zhe An, and Huang Jia Ming.
"Eogene faced an aggressive Chinese player whom he had not played against before," explained Joanne Quay, the deputy development director of Academy Badminton Malaysia.
"It is always tough against Chinese players."
With Eogene's elimination, Muhammad Faiq Haziq remains Malaysia's sole survivor in the boys' singles contest.
Faiq, the seventh seed, advanced after defeating Robert Ishmael Ramos 21-12, 21-13 and now faces an uphill battle against Zhang Ning.
The team will now place their hopes on Faiq to fulfil ABM's expectations of securing at least a medal in the men's singles event.
Historically, Malaysia have been a formidable force in this event, with Zulfadli Zulkiffli, Soo Teck Zhi, and Leong Jun Hao all achieving success in 2011, 2013, and 2017, respectively.
ABM's hopes of securing a podium in the boys' doubles are also hanging in the balance following the exits Aaron Tai-Kang Khai Xing and Lok Hong Quan-Faiq - first and third seeds.
Aaron-Khai Xing found China's Chen Yong Rui-Hu Ke Yuan too tough to handle as they went down 21-16, 21-18 while Faiq-Hong Quan were beaten 21-18, 21-18 by South Korea's Cho Hyun Woo-Lee Min Wook.
Loh Ziheng-Ahmad Redzuan will be tasked to gain swift revenge for their teammates as they are next to face the Koreans in the last 16.
Ziheng-Ahmad had no problem ousting Sri Lanka's Menula Chandrasekara-Anukh Pathirana 21-6, 21-5 to progress.
Also through were Bryan Jeremy Goonting-Low Han Chen who defeated Yuna Nakagawa-Rui Sato 21-14, 21-13.
In the girls' doubles, Ong Xin Yee-Carmen Ting made it through after dispatching Hong Kong's Liang Ka Wing-Yanes Wong 21-16, 21-18.
Malaysia's challenge in the mixed doubles was the first to end after Low Han Chen-Chong Jie Yu lost 21-17, 21-15 to Chen Zhe Han-Liao Li Xi.