KUCHING: Lee Zii Jia delivered a timely reminder of his class, shutting down critics with a gritty win, but it was not enough as Japan edged Malaysia 3-2 to seal top spot in Group B at the Forum Horsens, Denmark.
Malaysia pushed the tie to the brink with moments of defiance, but Japan’s early control proved decisive in a contest decided only in the final rubber.
Japan struck first through Kodai Naraoka, who defeated Leong Jun Hao 21-11, 21-15 in 49 minutes.
Jun Hao showed composure early and carried confidence from his head-to-head edge, but Naraoka gradually read his patterns, tightening his returns to take control.
The lead doubled when Yushi Tanaka overcame Justin Hoh 21-15, 21-12 in 39 minutes.
Justin struggled to find rhythm as unforced errors crept in, allowing Tanaka to dictate play and put Malaysia under pressure.
Malaysia hit back through Aaron Chia and Tee Kai Wun, who produced a relentless comeback to defeat Kakeru Kumagai and Hiroki Nishi 16-21, 21-14, 21-19 in 1 hour 6 minutes.
The pair traded blows throughout, with Tee Kai Wun’s subtle mid-game shuttle change helping shift momentum as they clawed Malaysia back into the tie.
With momentum building, Nur Izzuddin Rumsani and Soh Wooi Yik looked set to level the overall score.
They dominated the opening set and led in all three, but crucial unforced errors allowed Takumi Nomura and Yuichi Shimogami to steal a 1 hour 10 minute three-set win, a turning point that handed Japan the tie.
That left the final rubber as a matter of pride, and Lee Zii Jia made it count.
The Malaysian shuttler edged world no. 20 Koki Watanabe 21-13, 21-19 with a tense finish, answering doubts over his form and fitness with a composed showing in their 41-minute exchange.
More measured in movement but decisive in execution, Zii Jia showed flashes of his trademark explosiveness, giving Malaysia its only men’s singles tie win and a reminder that Malaysia’s trump card remains firmly in play heading into the knockouts.
Japan advance as Group B winners, with Malaysia progressing as runners-up after a hard-fought 3-2 defeat.
