KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia’s Thomas Cup journey ended abruptly yesterday as the men’s team fell 0-3 to defending champions China in the quarter-finals, highlighting a worrying dip in form at a crucial stage of the tournament.
National doubles coaching director Rexy Mainaky expressed his disappointment, noting the stark contrast between Malaysia’s promising group-stage performances and their flat showing in the knockout round.
“We should have topped the group, but even if we had, it would not have guaranteed an easy path in the quarter-finals,” Rexy told reporters during a press conference today.
“What concerns me more is why our level in the quarter-finals was so different from what we showed in the group stage. That is something we need to understand and address.”
Malaysia had opened strongly in Group B, but a narrow 2-3 loss to 2014 champions Japan on Wednesday disrupted their momentum, leaving them second in the group.
The defeat extends Malaysia’s long wait for a Thomas Cup title, which now stretches 32 years to their last triumph in 1992 on home soil in Kuala Lumpur.
Rexy stressed that the team would now undergo a detailed review, with particular focus on maintaining consistency under pressure, especially with the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya and future Thomas Cup campaigns looming.
“We need to step up. We have two years until the next Thomas Cup, but we cannot afford such inconsistencies, especially with major team and individual events like the Asian Games ahead,” he said.
Against China, Malaysia struggled in all three ties. In the opening singles, Leong Jun Hao fought hard but succumbed 10-21, 21-16, 9-21 to world number one Shi Yu Qi.
The doubles pairing of Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik were then outplayed in a close encounter, losing 22-24, 14-21 to world number five pair Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang.
China sealed the tie in the second singles, where Li Shi Feng, ranked world number seven, defeated Justin Hoh 21-14, 21-13 to book their semi-final berth.
The result also prolongs Malaysia’s 24-year drought against China in Thomas Cup encounters, their last victory coming in the 2002 semi-finals in Guangzhou with a 3-2 win.
Malaysia began their 2026 campaign with a narrow 3-2 win over England, followed by a convincing 4-1 victory against Finland, before the group-stage defeat to Japan. - May 2, 2026
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