Qingdao: If Malaysia could field its strongest lineup, they should get past Hong Kong in the opening match of the 2025 Badminton Asia Mixed Team Championships (BAMTC) in Qingdao, China on Wednesday.
However, the absence of key players—including men’s doubles pair Aaron Chia/Soh Wooi Yik, women’s doubles pair Pearly Tan/M Thinaah, and mixed doubles duo Chen Tang Jie/Toh Ee Wei—could make this matchup far more challenging.
Malaysia kicks off its Group B campaign on Wednesday at the Conson Gymnasium, featuring Leong Jun Hao and Justin Hoh in men’s singles, while the men’s doubles lineup includes Man Wei Chong/Tee Kai Wun and Yap Roy King/Wan Arif Wan Junaidi. Representing women’s singles are K Letshanaa and Wong Ling Ching, while the women’s doubles teams are Teoh Mei Xing/Go Pei Kee and Cheng Su Hui/Tan Zhing Yi. The mixed doubles lineup features Goh Soon Huat/Shevon Lai and Hoo Pang Ron/Cheng Su Yin.
Malaysia Holds a Ranking Advantage
On paper, Malaysia, ranked fifth in the tournament, still holds the edge over Hong Kong in key categories—women’s singles, men’s doubles, and mixed doubles. However, Hong Kong may capitalize on men’s singles and women’s doubles, making the overall battle far more competitive.
Coached by former Malaysian coach Wong Choong Hann, Hong Kong’s squad remains a dark horse, potentially pulling off an upset. Additionally, their coaching staff boasts two other former Malaysian national coaches, Tan Bin Shen and Jeremy Gan, leading their men’s and mixed doubles divisions.
Even though Hong Kong suffered a 0-5 defeat against Indonesia in their opening Group B match on Tuesday, they may have strategically rested key players, saving their best lineup for the Malaysia clash.
Malaysia’s “Giant Killer” Ready for the Challenge
Despite Hong Kong’s depth, Malaysia’s top men’s singles player, Leong Jun Hao (World No. 28), has a strong track record against Hong Kong’s leading player, Angus Ng Ka Long (World No. 20). In their last encounter, Leong Jun Hao defeated Angus Ng Ka Long.
No Experimental Lineups for Malaysia
The Malaysian coaching team, led by K. Yogendran, confirmed that the selection is based on current form rather than rankings. Discussions with Kenneth Jonassen (Head Coach, Malaysia Singles) and Rexy Mainaky (Coaching Director, Badminton Association of Malaysia – BAM) emphasized real-time performance and readiness over past results.
“We’ve assessed our players carefully, considering Hong Kong’s lineup and our latest preparations. We’re not making selections based on ranking alone—we’re looking at who’s in the best shape right now,” said Yogendran.
“We’re going with our strongest squad and won’t be splitting established doubles pairs. Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun and Wan Arif Wan Junaidi-Yap Roy King are performing at their peak, so they will stay as is,” he added.
For both singles and doubles events, Malaysia’s players are in top condition, but the team-based format requires a strategic approach. The final squad list will be announced before the match, with every selection geared toward securing victory.
A High-Stakes Battle Awaits
With both teams aiming for a strong start in Group B, this Malaysia vs. Hong Kong clash is set to be a highly anticipated showdown.
Will Malaysia’s ranking advantage translate into an easy win, or will Hong Kong’s strategic planning turn the tide? Stay tuned for all the latest badminton news and in-depth coverage of the BAMTC 2025 tournament.
