MALAYSIA clinched the mixed team bronze medal at the World Junior Championships by edging gritty hosts India 3-2 in a hard-fought tie in Pune yesterday.
Vivian Hoo-Sanatasah Saniru secured the winning point for Malaysia with a tough 21-14, 13-21, 21-9 victory over Sikki Reddy-P.C Thulasi.
Malaysia got off to a brilliant start when Teo Kok Siang-Vivian beat RMV Gurusaidutt-Prajakta Sawant 21-8, 21-17 in the mixed doubles.
However, Saina Nehwal leveled for India with an easy 21-9, 21-6 win over Florah Ng in the girls’ singles.
India took the lead when their top boys’ singles shuttler, Aditya Prakash edged Iskandar Zulkarnian Zainuddin 21-12, 20-22, 26-24.
But Mak Chun Hee- Kok Siang put Malaysia back on the track with a 21-14, 21-13 win over Sai Praneeth-Pranav Chopra before Vivian-Sanatasah secured the winning point.
On Sunday, Malaysia were beaten 3-0 by top seeds China in the semi-finals.
Doubles coach, Jeremy Gan, in a telephone interview from India, said the Malaysian shuttlers were delighted at having achieved the bronze medal target.
“They are on the right track of making an impression in the individual event. We hope for medals,” said the coach.
The individual event starts today.
Chun Hee-Kok Siang are favourites to win the boys’ doubles title.
RESULTS — Bronze medal: Malaysia 3 India 2 (Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin lost to Aditya Prakash 12-21, 22-20, 24-26; Mak Chun Hee-Teo Kok Siang bt Sai Praneeth-Pranav Chopra 21-14, 21-13; Florah Ng lost to Saina Nehwal 9-21, 6-21;
Vivian Hoo-Sanatasha Saniru bt Sikki Reddy-P.C Thulasi 21-14, 13-21, 21-9; Teo Kok Siang-Vivian Hoo bt RMV Gurusaidutt-Prajakta Sawant 21-8 21-17).
Final: China 3 South Korea 1.
