Malaysia To Face Denmark In Quarter-Finals

KUALA LUMPUR, May 11 (Bernama) -- Malaysia will face the European darkhorse, Denmark in the quarter-final stage of the Thomas Cup badminton tournament, which will start at 6pm at Putra Stadium in Bukit Jalil, Wednesday.

In the draw for the Thomas Cup quarter-finals, top seed China will battle against South Korea, Indonesia to square off with India while Germany will face Japan.

In their last Thomas Cup meet in Japan 2006, Malaysia lost 2-3 to the European champion.

National singles chief coach Rashid Sidek said Malaysia would have a good chance of going into the semi-finals as the Denmark team comprised senior and junior players.

"I won't be easy but it's better than meeting China, Indonesia or South Korea in the quarter-finals," he told reporters here.

Denmark's team manager Finn Traerup said his charges should steal a match from the men's singles and hoped both his doubles could beat their opponents.

"It won't be easy but I think we need something 'extra', especially in the men's singles," he said.

Based on the head-to-head record for the individual players, Traerup has reasons to be worried.

Malaysia's singles ace, Datuk Lee Chong Wei will not have any problem in facing Denmark's top singles, Peter Hoeg Gade as the Malaysian now leads 8:1 against his opponent.

National second singles, Wong Choong Hann has a 0:1 record against Jan O Jorgensen.

World number one pair from Malaysia, Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong also have a good record against both the Danes doubles.

Koo-Tan lead 3:2 against Lars Paaske-Jonas Rasmussen and 6:1 against Crasten Mogensen-Mathias Boe.

In the quarter-final draw for the Uber Cup, Malaysia will face their nemesis, Indonesia, top seeds China will meet India, Japan will face Denmark while South Korea will battle against Russia.

Rashid said Malaysia had a chance to beat their neighbour as proven at the Laos SEA Games where Malaysia won the gold medal against Indonesia.

"But the Indonesians must have learnt from their mistakes, so the Malaysian girls should be aware," he said.

Indonesia's Uber Cup team manager Djendjen Djaenanasn said Malaysia had the advantage of playing in front of their home crowd.

Source from BERNAMA

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