KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian women's team have made life difficult for themselves in losing 4-1 to Thailand in their final Group Y match of the Badminton Asia Team Championships (BATC) today.
After finishing second in the group, Malaysia will have to face one of the top four seeded teams in the quarter-finals tomorrow.
It is important to note that the top four teams from the competition will earn automatic qualification to the Uber Cup Finals in China in April.
Two-time former world junior champion Goh Jin Wei, despite having a better head-to-head record, lost 21-13, 26-24 to Supanida Katethong.
Hopes were high on Malaysia's No. 1 women's doubles, Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah, to level the tie, but the former French Open champions succumbed 20-22, 21-15, 21-19 to world No. 10 Jonkolphan Kititharakul-Rawinda Prajongjai.
It was a bitter pill to swallow for Pearly-Thinaah, who have never lost to the Thai duo in six prior meetings.
Malaysia's hope of finishing top in the group went up in smoke when K. Letshanaa lost 21-17, 21-18 to Thai veteran Busanan Ongbamrungphan.
Despite the heartbreak, national women's singles coach K. Yogendran said there is still hope for Malaysia's young women players.
Yogendran said: "Yes, we lost, but we did not lose badly and that is important.
"We must understand that when the women's team lost in the Sea Games last year, it demoralised the team.
"Today, we lost, but not by far, to a much stronger team.
"Players like Letshanaa showed improvement, and I want them to continue building on these positives."
In the second doubles, the scratch combination of Tan Zhing Yi-Teoh Mei Xing succumbed 21-17, 21-18 to Benyapa Aimsaard-Nuntakarn Aimsaard.
In the final singles match, 20-year-old Wong Ling Ching saved Malaysia some face with a 21-19, 15-21, 21-16 win over Pornpicha Choeikeewong.
WOMEN'S TEAM RESULTS
Group X - Indonesia bt Hong Kong 5-0
Group Y - Thailand bt Malaysia 4-1
Group Z - Japan bt Taiwan 5-0
