Malaysia’s hopes of finishing atop Group C in the 2025 Sudirman Cup were dashed after falling narrowly to Japan 2-3 in a high-stakes group stage finale at the Fenghuang Gymnasium on Monday.
Despite a valiant effort and a promising 2-0 lead, Malaysia ultimately had to settle for a second-place finish in the group. Japan topped the standings with their third straight win, while both teams had already sealed their spots in the quarter-finals after previous victories over France and Australia.
Malaysia came into the match full of confidence, having swept France 5-0 and defeated Australia 4-1. That momentum carried into the opening match when Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei, the world No. 4 mixed doubles pair, delivered a clinical performance against Japan’s newly-formed duo Hiroki Midorikawa-Arisa Igarashi. The Malaysians triumphed 21-19, 21-8 in just 39 minutes, giving the team an early 1-0 lead.
The national camp roared again when Leong Jun Hao, continuing his rise as a “giant killer,” stunned world No. 8 Kodai Naraoka in a gritty three-set men’s singles duel. Ranked 26th in the world, Jun Hao defied expectations and held his nerve to win 21-8, 13-21, 21-18 in 68 minutes, pushing Malaysia ahead 2-0.
But Japan, known for their depth and discipline, were far from done. Women’s singles star Tomoka Miyazaki responded strongly, overpowering Goh Jin Wei 21-14, 21-17 in straight sets to claw one point back for the Japanese.
The turning point came in the men’s doubles, where Malaysia opted to field Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik, the reigning Asian champions, instead of the in-form pair Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani. The decision appeared to backfire, as Aaron-Wooi Yik suffered a heartbreaking loss to Takuro Hoki-Yugo Kobayashi, extending their head-to-head deficit to 2-9. Despite a commanding start with a 21-12 win in the opening set, the Malaysians fell 20-22, 21-23 in the next two sets, allowing Japan to level the tie at 2-2.
With everything riding on the final match, Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah took on Japan’s top women’s doubles pair, Nami Matsuyama-Chiharu Shida, in a fiercely contested decider. Although Pearly-Thinaah showed resilience and forced a rubber set, their long-standing struggles against the Japanese pair persisted. They eventually succumbed 18-21, 21-18, 18-21 in a gruelling 88-minute marathon, marking their 13th loss in 14 encounters.
While the defeat is a bitter pill to swallow, Malaysia will now look to regroup and refocus ahead of the quarter-finals, where they will face a group winner from another pool. With strong performances from key players and valuable lessons learned, the squad remains a serious contender for a deep run in the tournament.
Credit Photo : Sudirman Cup 2025 OC
