Malaysia finish as Uber Cup Group B runners-up after a 1-4 loss to Japan, with Low Zi Yu-Noraqilah Maisarah Ramdan shining in a stunning win over a top-10 pair
AFTER turning hero in 3-2 victory over Turkiye in Group B opener last Saturday, national young pair Low Zi Yu-Noraqilah Maisarah Ramdan continued to impress despite Malaysia suffereing a 1-4 loss to Japan in the Uber Cup Finals 2026 here, today.
With both teams already cementing their place in the last eight, the result saw Malaysia emerge as runners-up while the six-time champions became Group B champion.
Zi Yu-Noraqilah Maisarah delivered the only point for Malaysia after enduring a rubber set battle that lasted 64-minutes to stun world No.7 pair Rin Iwanaga-Kie Nakanishi, 21-17, 12-21, 21-19.
The country’s second women’s doubles pair previously overcame Yasemen Bektas-Zehra Erdem 21-18, 21-19 to rescue Malaysia from an early scare against Turkiye.
Earlier, Malaysia were behind after the national number one women’s singles K. Letshanaa went down fighting in the first match against three-time world champion Akane Yamaguchi, 19-21, 17-21, in 41-minutes.
World No. 6 pair Yuki Fukushima-Mayu Matsumoto strengthened Japan’s position as they outplayed team captain M. Thinaah with her scratch pair partner, Ong Xin Yee, 21-9, 21-9.
Japan continued their momentum when second singles and world No. 9 Tomoka Miyazaki got the better of world No. 38, Wong Ling Ching 21-16, 21-13.
After Zi Yu-Noraqilah Maisarah’s huge victory over Iwanaga-Nakanishi, professional player Goh Jin Wei looked set to continue the momentum and nearly delivered the second point for Malaysia in the final match against Riko Gunji.
After leading Gunji 21-19 in the opening set, Jin Wei had to retire, believed to be due to discomfort in stomach area, before retiring from the match when the Malaysian trailed 3-4.
Malaysia confirmed their first quarter-finals after 16 years when they thrashed South Africa, 5-0, yesterday.
The Uber Cup Finals 2026, which kicked off April 24, will run until May 3.
