Malaysia loses to Denmark to finish third in Group Y

Zakki Hakim, Jakarta

Uber Cup debutante Malaysia battled hard but still could not avoid a 5-0 whitewashing at the hands of Denmark in their Group Y match at the Bung Karno Indoor Stadium here on Saturday.

It was the second loss for Malaysian, seeded 11th out of 12 teams, following their 4-1 loss to Japan on the opening day of the competition.

Wong Mew Choo and her teammates were clearly outclassed by the Danish women, led by Camila Martin.

In the first singles, world No. 8 Martin breezed past Wong, ranked 47th, 11-3, 11-6, giving the fifth-seeded Denmark a 1-0 lead.

The first doubles saw the Malaysian pair of Chin Eei Hui and Wong Pei Tty steal the first game against the world number seven ranked pair of Rieke Olsen and Ann-Lou Jorgensen.

However, the Malaysians were unable to maintain their form over the next two games, losing to the Danish pair 12-15, 15-7, 15-8.

Playing second singles for Malaysia, Woon Sze Mei also stole the first game before eventually falling to Tine Rasmussen 7-11, 11-6, 11-9.

Mette Schjoldager and Pernille Harder extended Denmark's lead to 4-0 with a comprehensive 15-2, 15-2 victory over Ooi Sock Ai and Mooi Hing Yau.

Camilla Sorensen completed the sweep with her 11-3, 13-10 defeat of Sagita Kunalan.

Despite the loss, Malaysian coach Fanny Kumala Megahwati had praise for her team.

"It was our debut and the players gave their best and they proved that they can challenge international players whose level of play is above theirs," said the former Indonesian coach who took over the Malaysian team in 2001.

"Their only weakness is a lack of confidence," she said, adding that playing in more international tournaments would make her players stronger.

By finishing third in the group, Malaysia will face either Australia, which is most likely to finish in second in Group Z after it took a 5-0 win over Canada.

Lenny Permana and Kelly Lucas beat Charmaine Reid and Sarah Macmaster, 11-4, 11-7 and 11-7, 11-3 respectively while Jane Crabtree was stretched to a three-game match in her 5-11, 13-11, 11-3 defeat of Valerie St. Jacques.

Lenny Permana and Kelly Lucas continued their winning run in the doubles with a 15-2, 15-7 win over Kelli Sherlock and Sarah Macmaster.

Earlier, Kate Wilson-Smith and Jane Crabtree defeated Charmaine Reid and Helen Nichol 13-15, 15-7.

"We are a bit better than the Australian team but we won't underestimate them," she said.

No members of the Danish team were available for comment, as the whole delegation left immediately after the match for a formal dinner with Denmark's ambassador to Indonesia.

Denmark will meet Japan on Sunday to determine the winner of Group Y, with an automatic place in the quarterfinals at stake.