Japan makes history, Malaysia's dreams shattered

Malaysia’s dream of returning home with the prestigious Thomas Cup trophy were shattered on Sunday night after being dealt a 2-3 defeat by the giant-killing Japanese badminton team which clinched a historic first win for their country.

The last game saw Japanese shuttler Takuma Ueda defeating Malaysian third singles player Liew Daren in a nail-biting rubber set game.

Euda, sailed through the first set beating Liew, 12-21.

However, Liew gave Euda a run for his money when he clawed his way back for a great comeback from 10-16 to win 21-18.

The ensuing rubber set witnessed a point-for-point rally between the two. Liew, who mostly trailed behind managed to score 17 points before being overcome by Euda.

This was Japan’s first ever appearance in the prestigious cup finals after pulling an amazing 3-0 upset in the semi-finals to reigning champions China of the last five editions.

The odds were also stacked against Japan with as Malaysia was the trophy's five-time winners – in 1949, 1952, 1955, 1967, and the last, in 1992.

Hopes were high for an end to Malaysia’s 22-year 'drought' for the trophy when in the opening round earlier, World No. 1 shuttler Lee Chong Wei beat Kenichi Tago in a 21-12, 21-16 to score the first point for the country.

However, Tan Boon Heong and Hoon Thien How lost to Kenichi Hayakama-Hiroyuki Endo in the first doubles following a close rubber set, 21-12, 17-21, 19-21.

Japan took the lead after Malaysia's second singles player Chong Wei Feng lost to Kento Momota in straight set 15-21, 17-21.

But the equalizer came with second doubles team Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong wrenching the win from Japanese team Keigo Sonoda-Takeshi Kamura in a 19-21,21-17, 21-12 rubber game.

The matches, which ended close to midnight, had began earlier at 5.30pm Malaysian time at the Siri Fort Stadium, New Delhi.

At the semi-finals on Friday, Malaysia defeated Indonesia 3-0 to storm into the finals to face Japan.

The last time Malaysia qualified for the Thomas Cup finals was in 2002 in Guangzhou, China, but lost 2-3 to Indonesia.

Japan were semi-finalists twice before, in 2010 and 2012.