In a Twitter post, the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) said Zii Jia, Malaysia’s No 1 singles shuttler, beat Kean Yew 21-6, 21-14 in the Group B match.

Kean Yew won the world title at the World Championships last December in Spain.

Zii Jia earned Malaysia’s first point against Singapore, while men’s pair Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik beat Danny Chrisnanta-Koh Eng Keat 21-14, 21-12.

This is Zii Jia’s first match since the controversy over his resignation from the BAM, which saw him banned from taking part in international tournaments under the Malaysian flag.

BAM’s decision sparked an uproar among fans but the issue was later amicably settled during a meeting involving Zii Jia, BAM president Norza Zakaria and Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob.