HORSENS (Denmark), April 29 — All players in the national women’s badminton squad are prepared to face a challenging test against defending champions China in the quarter-finals of the 2026 Uber Cup at Forum Horsens tomorrow.

Team manager Datuk Chong Juong Chain believes the players fielded will fight with all their might to provide fierce competition against the most successful team in Uber Cup history, which holds 16 titles.

“What I can say at this moment is that our players are in ‘ready mode’ and ready to fight. Regardless of who the opponent is, whether it’s China or any other team, we still want to fight — that is what’s most important,” he told Bernama immediately after the knockout stage draw here today.

On paper, China holds the advantage in every aspect, boasting a lineup of world-class stars including world number two Wang Zhi Yi, Chen Yu Fei (No. 4), and Han Yue (No. 5), as well as the world number one doubles pair Liu Sheng Shu-Tan Ning.

Malaysia, competing without key player Pearly Tan due to a recent back injury, is led by her partner M. Thinaah while others include the young doubles pair ranked 143rd in the world, Low Zi Yu-Noraqilah Maisarah Ramdan, and the nation’s top women’s singles player, K. Letshanaa (No. 33).

Zi Yu-Noraqilah could serve as the country’s secret weapon following their impressive performance so far, which included upsetting world number seven pair Rin Iwanaga-Kie Nakanishi 21-17, 12-21, 21-19 during the national team’s 1-4 loss to six-time champions Japan in their final Group B match last Monday.

Malaysia advanced to the quarter-finals as the runners-up of Group B, while China entered as the winners of Group A.

Only the top two teams from each group qualify for the quarter-finals.

This marks the first time in 16 years that Malaysia has reached the quarter-finals, having previously qualified only three times in 2004, 2008, and 2010.

The national squad opened their Group B campaign by defeating Turkiye 3-2, followed by a 5-0 sweep of South Africa, which confirmed their slot in the quarter-finals.

The 2026 Uber Cup competition, which began on April 24, is set to conclude on May 3. — Bernama 

HORSENS (Denmark), April 27 — Japan may be the favourites, but Malaysia are not about to roll over in their final Group B clash of the Uber Cup Finals 2026 here today.

National number one women’s singles shuttler K. Letshanaa said the team was determined to ride on their growing momentum and give the six-time champions a run for their money when they meet in Forum Horsens.

“Actually, what we can promise is one thing — that we will really fight on the court. Winning or losing is the second outcome.

“We win as a team, we lose as a team. Each player that’s going to step on the court is going to fight, give 100 per cent...we won’t let them think that we are an easy opponent to take,” she told Bernama in a post-match interview here yesterday.

The world No. 34 had earlier helped Malaysia get off to a flying start against South Africa when she breezed past world No. 160 Johanita Scholtz, 21-6, 21-10, in 22 minutes.

Separately, Letshanaa said a long-awaited return to the quarter-finals after 16 years for Malaysia had also injected belief into the squad.

Malaysia, who kicked off the campaign with a narrow 3-2 win over Türkiye yesterday, advanced to the quarter-finals when they swept aside South Africa 5-0 earlier today.

Meanwhile, debutant women’s doubles shuttler Chong Jie Yu said the experience of playing in the Uber Cup still feels surreal after a last-minute call-up to the squad, but she is relishing every moment of it.

Jie Yu replaced national number one women’s doubles player Pearly Tan, who withdrew from the tournament due to a recurring back injury.

The 20-year-old helped cap off a perfect day for Malaysia in the last match against South Africa as she and partner Low Zi Yu prevailed against Elme De Villiers-Anri Schoonees, 21-12, 21-5, in 21 minutes.

If fielded against Japan tomorrow, Jie Yu said she would embrace the occasion with a simple mindset and take things step by step.

The Uber Cup Finals 2026, which began on April 24, runs until May 3. — Bernama