KUALA LUMPUR: None of Malaysia’s men’s singles shuttlers won at last week’s Asian Badminton Champion-ships (ABC) in Taiwan but national singles coach Rashid Sidek is pleased with their good showing against China’s top players.

And the coach believes that the Malaysian shuttlers are growing in confidence against Chinese players.

Chong Wei Feng defeated Gao Huan before going down fighting to Chen Long 17-21, 15-21 in the semi-finals; Liew Daren gave Du Pengyu a run for his money before losing 24-26, 19-21; and back-up shuttler Goh Soon Huat played with confidence to stretch Chen Long before succumbing 20-22, 18-21.

Rashid feels that the Malaysian shuttlers have closed the gap on their Chinese counterparts.