Despite fielding their top players, hoping to make amends for their 3-2 loss to Hong Kong yesterday, Malaysia was bundled out of the tournament in Qingdao, China.

In the first match, husband-wife mixed doubles pair Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Jemie Lai lost to the up-and-coming pair Dejan Ferdinansyah-Siti Fadia Ramadhanti 21-17, 13-21, 18-21.

National women’s singles player K Letshanaa was under immense pressure to win the second match, but she lost to Komang Ayu Cahya Dewi – who was the finalist at the BWF Thailand Masters two weeks ago – in straight games, 12-21, 19-21.

Men’s singles player Leong Jun Hao then shone with a scintillating display to keep the country’s hopes alive in the match against Yohanes Saut Marcellyno, which lasted 80 minutes.

He lost the first game 11-21 and was trailing 16-20 in the second game before making an amazing comeback to win 22-20. In the rubber game, Jun Hao sealed the match with a 21-12 victory.

However, women’s doubles pair Go Peik Kee-Teoh Mei Xing then fell to Rachel Allessya-Meilysa Trias Puspitasari 21-18, 7-21, 17-21 in the fourth match, giving Indonesia an unassailable 3-1 lead.

The remaining match between men’s doubles pairs Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun and Daniel Marthin-Muhammad Shohibul Fikri is merely academic as the tournament rules require teams to play all the matches.

The top two teams from the group qualify for the quarter-finals.