World Juniors: Malaysia Set Up Final With China

Unruffled by an Indonesian crowd that created the ambience of a mini Istora Senayan at the Cairo International Stadium, Malaysia calmly navigated their way past the two-time champions into the final of the VICTOR BWF World Junior Team Championships 2026 for the Suhandinata Cup.

All week Indonesia have been buoyed by the cheery and large presence of Indonesian students in the stands, but Friday was, expectedly, of an altogether higher intensity. The crowd serenaded their players with emotional chants, doing their utmost to lift their players as they faced a strong Malaysian team.

Indonesian players acknowledge their fans

However, in nearly all departments of the contest, Malaysia proved the better team.

Indonesia did stay close through the opening set, and at the end of the fourth match, were just a point behind.

It was men’s doubles pair Damien Ling/Irfan Shazmir who turned the tide for Malaysia in the fifth, dominating Faizal Pangestu/Anju Siahaan to ensure the first set for Malaysia, 55-49.

That deflated the Indonesian challenge, and they were nowhere as competitive in the second set. Starting with Tiew Wei Jie in the men’s singles, and with the composed Low Zi Yu having a standout performance for Malaysia with Genevie Lim in the women’s and Ahmad Redzuan in the mixed, the Malaysians had a handy lead before the final match.

By the time Malaysia fielded a different combination in the men’s doubles – Isyraf Hafizin/Ahmad Redzuan, Malaysia were seven points ahead. The Malaysians left their opponents trailing in the dust as they clinched the final spot 55-49 55-42. Malaysia are in their first final since 2017 and have a shot at their second title.

“The team deserves it because at the last meeting at the Asian Juniors we beat them 2-1. We adjusted our lineup and everyone performed,” said Malaysian coach Yeoh Kay Bin.

“We understood our opponents well. Everyone had their own mission and the strong ones tried to get more points and weak ones tried to get as much as they can. Of course, our strong events were mixed doubles, women’s doubles and they gave a lot of points.

“Everyone worked together as a team, one direction. Of course we hope we can win the final, we still have a lot of work to do to plan. The crowd was crazy. I told my team to focus and concentrate and not get carried away by the crowd.”

The China-Thailand semifinal swung on the fortunes of the first set in which Thailand led for the most part until China’s women’s doubles pair Shi Si Chen/Wei Yue Yue exerted their authority. Having lost the set narrowly, Thailand’s challenge never recovered, and they fell 55-53 55-36. China now have a shot at winning their 16th Suhandinata Cup.

» Hong Kong China beat UAE 2-0 to finish fifth overall, while Japan beat Estonia 2-0 to finish seventh.

» In the playoff for ninth place, Denmark prevailed 2-0 over USA, while Chinese Taipei finished 11th by beating Turkiye 2-0.