HORSENS (Denmark), April 28 — Malaysia’s Group B campaign in the Uber Cup Finals 2026 ended on a mixed note for team captain M. Thinaah after guiding the side into the quarter-finals for the first time in 16 years.

Thinaah, who is national number one women’s doubles player, said the milestone came with personal regret as she was unable to register a single point in her matches on court in Forum Horsens, so far.

“Actually as team captain, I’m quite sad that I couldn’t contribute even one point. Really disappointing in that part as the captain, what more being the eldest in the group,” she told Bernama.

Yesterday, Thinaah, who partnered with fresh face Ong Xin Yee as scratch pair, lost 9-21, 9-21 to world No. 6 pair Yuki Fukushima-Mayu Matsumoto, in the second match against Japan.

Japan, six-time champion eventually emerged as Group B champions following a 4-1 victory over Malaysia, who finished as runners-up.

Xin Yee-Thinaah also went down in a close encounter 22-20, 19-21, 19-21 to Bengisu Ercetin-Nazlican Inci of Turkiye in Group B opener last Saturday.

Malaysia, however, won the match against Turkiye, 3-2.

In the meantime, Thinaah said she was proud in the collective effort that carried Malaysia through the group stage.

“To be honest, I’m really happy and proud of all my teammates… they really played with full spirit,” she said.

Malaysia sealed their fourth quarter-finals spot in the Uber Cup following 5-0 win over South Africa, on Sunday.

The national badminton squad had previously advanced to the quarter-finals, their best achievement in the prestigious tournament, during 2004, 2008 and 2010 editions.

The Uber Cup Finals 2026, which began April 24, will run until 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

HORSENS (Denmark), April 27 — Malaysia made their comeback in the quarter-finals of the Uber Cup Finals after 16 years when they swept aside South Africa 5-0 in their second Group B tie of the 2026 edition at the Forum Horsens, here, yesterday.

National top women’s singles and world No. 34 K. Letshanaa got the squad off to a flying start as she breezed past world No. 160 Johanita Scholtz, 21-6, 21-10, in 22-minutes.

Second singles Wong Ling Ching doubled the lead as she barely raised a sweat against Chloe Lai 21-8, 21-4, in 19-minutes before Siti Zulaikha Muhammad Azmi cemented Malaysia’s ticket to the last eight with 21-11, 21-5, over Elme De Villiers.

However, Malaysia were not done yet.

National young women’s doubles pair Ong Xin Yee-Carmen Ting, tested more than their teammates, showed composure under pressure to overcome Scholtz, who returned to the court with Amy Ackerman 21-16, 21-14, to deliver the fourth point for the country in 31-minutes.

Debutants and national young duo Chong Jie Yu-Low Zi Yu then put the finishing touch to a near-perfect outing, completing the rout against De Villiers-Anri Schoonees, 21-12, 21-5, in 21-minutes.

Today’s result meant Malaysia equalled their best achievement in the Uber Cup by reaching the last eight for three times previously in 2004, 2008 and 2010.

Malaysia, who opened the Uber Cup Finals 2026 campaign by edging Turkiye 3-2 yesterday, will wrap up the Group B action against six-time champions, Japan, today.

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