PETALING JAYA, Sept 27 – SEA Games champion, S. Kisona, ranked No 53 in the world fell to a shock straight games 16-21, 20-22 defeat to Abigail Holden (No.176) in her women’s singles match but Malaysia scraped past England 3-2 in their opening Group D match in Vantaa, Finland on Monday.
Malaysia rode on their 3-0 lead in the first three matches – with mixed doubles pair Hoo Pang Ron-Cheah See Yee snatching a 21-19, 21-18 victory over Marcus Ellis-Lauren Smith in a 48-minute thriller.
It was a morale boosting win for the young Malaysian side and All-England men’s singles champion Lee Zii Jia delivered the second point for the team as he strolled past Johnnie Torjussen 21-4, 21-15. The Sea Games champion needed only 28 minutes for his win.
Malaysia were in the driving seat when Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik, fresh from winning the bronze medal in the recent Tokyo 2020 Olympics, did enough to beat Ben Lane-Sean Vendy 22-20, 21-18 in the men’s doubles for a 3-0 lead.
Then came Kisona’s unexpected defeat to Abigail Holden in the battle of Sudirman Cup debutants.
Kisona’s defeat rattled the Malaysian camp who will now need to work on the short comings in her game.
England ended the tie by taking another point off the Malaysians when Chloe Birch-Lauren Smith with a 21-18, 17-21, 21-10 win over Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah in the women’s doubles.
On Tuesday, Malaysia will take in Egypt while Japan, 5-0 winners over Egypt in their opening tie will take on England.
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