KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian men's team were "rewarded" with a quarter-final match against Singapore in the Badminton Asia Team Championships (BATC) after beating Taiwan 3-2 to top Group B yesterday.
Lee Zii Jia put defending champions Malaysia ahead at the Setia City Convention Centre by defeating Lin Chun Yi 21-16, 21-13 in the first singles match.
But Taiwan drew level when their scratch pairing of Lee Jhe Huei-Lee Yang upset former world champions Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik 23-21, 21-17.
In a repeat of last year's KL Masters final, Leong Jun Hao downed Lee Chia Hao 21-19, 21-17 to put Malaysia 2-1 ahead.
Men's doubles Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani put the match beyond Taiwan's reach when they defeated scratch pair Wang Chi Lin-Yang Po Han 21-19, 21-14.
In the final singles match, Eogene Ewe lost 21-16, 21-14 to Chi Yu Jen.
Meanwhile, the Malaysian women's team will face Indonesia in the last eight today.
In their final Group Y tie, Malaysia lost 4-1 to Thailand and finished second in the group.
The top four teams from the BATC will automatically qualify for the Thomas and Uber Cup Finals in China in April.
RESULTS
Men's Group A - China bt India 3-2.
Group B - Kazakhstan bt Brunei 4-1; Malaysia bt Taiwan 3-2.
Group C - Japan bt Thailand 4-1; Singapore bt Myanmar 5-0.
Group D - South Korea bt Indonesia 3-2; UAE bt Saudi Arabia 5-0.
Women's Group X - Indonesia bt Hong Kong 5-0.
Group Y - Thailand bt Malaysia 4-1.
Group Z - Japan bt Taiwan 5-0.
