Serve ’em hot stuff
Captain Soh and Co hopeful of delicious outcome in spicy clash with Danes

CHENGDU: Malaysia’s final Group D match against Denmark in the Thomas Cup Finals today is set to be a spicy affair, rivalling the food in Chengdu.

Chengdu is well known for it’s spicy Sichuan delicacies and it’s fitting that the two teams are set to heat up the Hi-Tech Sports Arena with a top spot in the group at stake.

Both teams have started on fire with 5-0 wins over Hong Kong and Algeria in their earlier group matches and are already assured of spots in the quarter-finals.

Denmark, who are the second seeds, will start as the favourites but Malaysia have the ability to cause an upset.

Captain Soh Wooi Yik is expecting a close fight between the two teams and hopes Malaysia come out on top.

“It will definitely be a tough match and we have to prepare well,” said Wooi Yik.

“It’s a crucial match to decide the winner of the group.

“We have qualified for the quarter-finals but we are not satisfied yet.

“Our team’s performance has been good so far and I hope this will continue,” added Wooi Yik.

Wooi Yik plays an important role in the first doubles along with Aaron Chia and is out to lead by example by winning his match against Denmark’s world No. 4 Kim Astrup-Anders Skaarup Rasmussen.

Aaron-Wooi Yik hold the advantage over the Danes, having beaten them six times in their past nine meetings but anything can happen in the team event.

“It will be difficult for us against them. We have played them many times and know each other well,” said Wooi Yik.

“Our last match against them was in the Denmark Open (last October) where we won but it was not easy.

“We have to give 100 percent to have a chance to win again.”

In the first singles, world No. 10 Lee Zii Jia also has a huge task to get the team off on the right foot when he goes up against world No. 1 Viktor Axelsen.

A win for Zii Jia will be crucial to the team’s hopes of victory as Denmark have the advantage in both the second and third singles.

World No. 37 Leong Jun Hao and world No. 63 Cheam Jun Wei both face uphill battles against Anders Antonsen (No. 4) and Rasmus Gemke (No. 26).

The team will also be relying on world No. 15 Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani to deliver in the second doubles against world No. 18 Rasmus Kjaer-Frederik Sogaard.

Sze Fei-Izzuddin, who received a timely boost ahead of the team meet after finishing runners-up in the Asian Championships earlier this month, have vowed to not let pressure affect them.

“We are used to the pressure and we will try to handle this well,” said Izzuddin.

“Every match is important for the team and we will give our very best to get a point.”

POSSIBLE MATCH-UPS

DENMARK vs MALAYSIA (Latest world ranking in brackets)

First singles

Lee Zii Jia (10) vs Viktor Axelsen (1)

Both players hold the key to their team’s chances of winning the overall tie. Axelsen will start as the favourite as he has beaten Zii Jia in five of their last eight meetings but the Dane’s form has been shaky this year and the Malaysian has an opportunity to cause a big upset. Axelsen lost to Frenchman Toma Popov in the semi-finals of the European Championships earlier this month and has yet to win a title this year. Zii Jia last beat the reigning Olympic champion in a full match in the 2021 All-England Open final. In their last encounter, the Dane had to fight tooth and nail to beat the 26-year-old in three games in the semi-finals of the Indonesian Open. Zii Jia has the ability to rise to the occasion to give Malaysia a valuable opening point.

First doubles

Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik (5) vs Kim Astrup-Anders Skaarup Rasmussen (4)

This will likely be another close match. Aaron-Wooi Yik have the advantage despite ranked one rung lower than the Danish pair as they have won six of their past nine meetings. in their last meeting, Aaron-Wooi yik memorably triumphed over Astrup-Rasmussen en route to capturing the Denmark Open. The Danes have struggled this year after flying high in the second half of last year but did capture gold in the European Championships. Aaron-Wooi Yik finished runners-up in the All-England and won bronze in the Asian Championships and have been more consistent overall than Astruprasmussen this year. If Zii Jia manages to beat Axelsen, a win for Aaron-Wooi Yik could put Malaysia in a good position in the tie.

Second singles

Leong Jun Hao (37) vs Anders Antonsen (4)

Antonsen is the clear favourite in this match. The Dane is more experienced in higher level tournaments and started the year on fire by capturing the Malaysian Open and Indonesian Masters in January. The 27-year-old also won gold in the European Championships. Jun Hao has a tough task to fill the void left behind by world No. 18 teammate Ng Tze Yong, who misses the team meet due to injury. The 2017 Asian Junior champion, though, will be boosted by his win over Hong Kong’s world No. 27 Angus Ng Ka long in the opening group match and will be out to give Antonsen a good fight. The Dane’s experience will likely give him the edge in this match.

Second doubles

Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani (15) vs Rasmus Kjaer-Frederik Sogaard (18)

Both pairs have never met before in international tournaments. Sze Fei-Izzuddin have the advantage after producing arguably the best form in their career so far by reaching the final of the Asian Championships and will be full of confidence. The pair are also reliable in team events and played an important role in Malaysia’s runners-up finish in the Asia team meet in Selangor in February by winning all their matches. Kjaersogaard will be no pushovers though as they stunned China’s world No. 1 Liang Weikeng-Wang Chang twice last year and gave Aaron-Wooi Yik a scare before going down in three games in the first round of the Malaysian Open in January. This will be a key match and Sze Fei-Izzuddin need to continue their good recent form to give Malaysia a valuable point.

Third singles

Cheam June Wei (63) vs Rasmus Gemke (26)

Malaysia must not let the tie go down to the decider as Gemke holds the advantage in this match. The dane has more experience and has been playing regularly in World Tour super 750 and 1000 level tournaments while June Wei’s progress has been hampered by injuries and lack of self-confidence. The two players have only met once in international events in the German Junior Open where June Wei won but things have changed since then. The 27-year-old though has been given a confidence boost after his inclusion in the team and is hungry to make an impression. Malaysia could also spring a surprise and field youngster Justin Hoh in this match. Whoever plays will face a tough task to win.

PAST ENCOUNTERS AGAINST DENMARK

(Malaysia Won 11, Lost 6)

1948-1949 : Won 8-1 (Final)

1954-1955 : Won 6-3 (Final)

1963-1964 : Lost 2-7 (First round)

1966-1967 : Won 7-2 (First round)

1969-1970 : Won 5-4 (second round)

1975-1976 : Won 5-4 (second round)

1986 : Won 3-2 (Third place playoff)

1992: Won 5-0 (Group)

1994: Won 4-1 (Group)

1996: Lost 2-3 (Group)

1998: Won 3-2 (semifinal)

2000: Lost 2-3 (Group)

2006: Lost 2-3 (semifinal)

2010: Won 3-2 (Quarter-final)

2012: Lost 2-3 (Group)

2016: Lost 2-3 (semifinal)

2018: Lost 2-3 (Group)
Badminton,Thomas Cup Finals,Soh Wooi Yik,Malaysia,Denmark
CHENGDU: Malaysia’s final Group D match against Denmark in the Thomas Cup Finals today is set to be a spicy affair, rivalling the food in Chengdu.