MALAYSIA took a giant step towards forward in their bid to qualifying for the Uber Cup finals for the first time when they stunned Hong Kong 3-2 in their opening match of the Asian Zone qualifying round at the Kuala Lumpur BA (KLBA) Stadium in Cheras yesterday. The match was seen as a mission impossible with Hong Kong parading their former Chinese internationals from China but the young Malaysian squad made up for their inexperience by displaying true grit to emerge victorious after battling for almost five and a half hours. The Singles players were the surprise package of the pack as Woon Sze Mei and the 16-year-old Norsyahliza Baharom, making her debut in the Uber Cup, beat defeated the experienced Ling Wan Ting and Koon Wai Chee respectively while top doubles pair Wong Pey Tty-Chin Eei Hui held their nerves to win the deciding doubles match against Koon Wai Chee-Ling Wan Ting 15-7, 12-15, 15-10. The win Victory against Hong Kong means that Malaysia are in the drivers' seat to claim their place in the final round in Jakarta in May as they are likely to finish in the top two of Group B which also comprises Japan, India and Macau. Japan are expected to beat Malaysia today but the hosts should reach the semi-finals by beating Macau on Thursday and India on Friday. Hong Kong's downfall was their over- dependence on World No 4 Wang Chen, Wai Chee and Wan Ting was just too much as they were forced to play in the singles and doubles. Although Malaysia could not get a perfect start from Wong Mew Choo who as she found World No 4 Wang Chen too strong and lost fell to a 8-11, 11-3, 11-1, defeat, Sze Mei turned the tide in Malaysia's favour with an unexpected 11-6, 11-7 win over Wan Ting in 38 minutes. Norsyaliza delivered the killer blow to for Hong Kong when as she humbled Wai Chee 11-9, 11-6 to put Malaysia ahead with a 2-1. lead. Wang Chen and Li Wing Mui outplayed scratch pair Fong Chew Yen and Ooi Sock Ai 17-14, 15-2 to draw level but Pei Tty-Eei Hui clinched the match after a 80-minute struggle against Wai Chee-Wan Ting. Pei Tty-Eei Hui started off well and won winning as they took control of the first game to win 15-7 but lost their way in the second after becoming too eager to seal the match and let slip a 11-7 lead to lose 12-15. The Malaysians were in trouble in the third game as Wai Chee-Wan Ting took a 8-2 lead but Pei Tty-Eei Hui staged a remarkable fightback. at that stage. The Hong Kong pair could not sustain the pace and Pei Tty-Eei Hui stepped up the tempo to secure a 15-10 win to clinch Malaysia's winning point. National coach Misbun Sidek said that Malaysia have achieved their first target of beating Hong Kong and wants the players to remain focused to earn a place in the final round. "The players did their job as expected. I was hoping for points from Mew Choo and Norsyahliza but Sze Mei performed above expectations to help our cause," said Misbun. "Now that we have achieved the win, the players must remain focused as we have another three matches. "We have cleared a major hurdle and the players will be more confident now." Women's doubles coach Cheah Soon Kit also paid tribute to Pei Tty-Eei Hui for fighting their way back into the match but said the Chew Yen-Sock Ai need to play much better in the next match against Japan. Soon Kit said that it will not be easy for Malaysia against Japan and they will have to come up with the right strategy to against the second seeds. "Pei Tty-Eei Hui did well despite playing in their first Uber Cup campaign as a pair. They could have wrapped it up in straight games but were became too excited," said Soon Kit. "Sock Ai was very nervous as she has never played in a senior event before. Nevertheless,. it was a good experience for her and she should play better in the remaining matches. "Our focus is now is to beat Macau and India to confirm our berth in the Uber Cup finals. "The match against Japan is important improtant but we need to discuss before coming up with the line-up." In another Uber Cup Group A match, Japan sounded gave Malaysia a warning by thrashing Macau 5-0. in their opening match. RESULTS — Uber Cup Group A: Malaysia 3 Hong Kong 2 (Wong Mew Choo lost to Wang Chen 8-11, 11-3, 11-1; Woon Sze Mei bt Ling Wan Ting 11-6, 11-7; Norsyahliza Baharom bt Koon Wai Chee 11-9, 11-6; Fong Chew Yen-Ooi lost to Wang Chen-Ling Wan Ting 17-14, 15-2; Chin Eei Hui-Wong Pei Tty bt Koon Wai Chee-Ling Wan Ting 15-7, 12-15, 15-10); Japan 5 Macau 0.
