Malaysia’s men’s badminton team were forced to settle for Group D runners-up after suffering a narrow 2-3 defeat to Indonesia in their final group match of the Badminton Asia Team Championships 2026 in Qingdao today.
In a gripping encounter at the Qingdao Sports Centre, Malaysia made a flying start and surged into a 2-0 lead, only for Indonesia to mount a spirited comeback and snatch victory in the deciding rubber.
World No.39 Justin Hoh gave Malaysia the perfect opening by ending his two-match losing streak against Moh Zaki Ubaidillah (World No.38).
Justin produced a composed display to secure a straight-sets win 21-16, 21-19, handing Malaysia their first point.
Momentum stayed firmly with the national squad when men’s doubles pair Wan Arif Wan Junaidi and Yap Roy King doubled the advantage.
In their first-ever meeting, Arif–Roy King overcame Indonesia’s Leo Rolly Carnando–Bagas Maulana in a three-set battle 21-13, 12-21, 21-13, putting Malaysia in a commanding position at 2-0.
Indonesia refused to fold and clawed their way back into the tie through Prahdiska Bagas Shujiwo, who edged past Malaysia’s Eogene Ewe in a tight singles contest 21-12, 14-21, 21-15.
The momentum then swung decisively in Indonesia’s favour as their rising doubles pair Raymond Indra–Nikolaus Joaquin outlasted Choong Hon Jian–Muhammad Haikal Nazri 21-16, 11-21, 19-21, levelling the tie at 2-2.
The defeat marked a second consecutive loss for Hon Jian–Haikal against the Indonesian duo, following their setback at last year’s Australian Open.
The tie came down to the final singles match, where Malaysia’s young shuttler Kong Wei Xiang pushed former world No.2 Anthony Sinisuka Ginting to the limit.
Wei Xiang stunned his opponent by taking the opening set 21-17, but Ginting responded with authority, claiming the second set 21-13.
In the decider, experience told. Ginting held his nerve under pressure to close out the match 21-16, sealing Indonesia’s 3-2 victory.
Despite the defeat, both Indonesia and Malaysia, as the top two teams in Group D, confirmed their places in the quarter-finals of the Badminton Asia Team Championships.
Credit Photo : Badminton Asia
