---
title: "Malaysia stun Japan with 3-2 comeback win and qualify for BATC semi-finals"
url: https://weirdkaya.com/malaysia-stun-japan-qualify-batc-semi-finals/
date: 2022-02-19
modified: 2022-02-19
lang: en
author: "S.Y Lee"
description: "SHAH ALAM - World number 126 Leong Jun Hao rescued Malaysia from the clutches of defeat after scoring the game-winning point against Japan with a 3-2 victory in the final..."
categories:
  - "Sports"
image: https://cdn.weirdkaya.com/media/Link-preview-10.0-33-2.png
word_count: 288
---

# Malaysia stun Japan with 3-2 comeback win and qualify for BATC semi-finals

**SHAH ALAM** - World number 126 Leong Jun Hao rescued Malaysia from the clutches of defeat after scoring the game-winning point against Japan with a 3-2 victory in the final group match at the Badminton Asia Team Championships (BATC) 2022 yesterday (18 Feb).

This much-needed win has guaranteed Malaysia a spot as the semi-finals as well as the Thomas and Uber Cup Finals in Bangkok in May.

![Malaysia stun Japan with 3-2 comeback win and qualify for BATC semi-finals](https://scontent.fkul13-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/274152918_7276556075717994_1976027812716131255_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-5&_nc_sid=8bfeb9&_nc_ohc=WzUIN6E2sIIAX-AFAzp&_nc_ht=scontent.fkul13-1.fna&oh=00_AT8DBnWn5aovJBYBdtA6PBF2yQVEYKXOTbDNe4SnJCXyPg&oe=621580FC)Photo from [Facebook/ Badmintonwithu2013](https://www.facebook.com/Badmintonwithu2013/photos/7276556079051327)

Lee Zii Jia secured the first point for the team after surviving a grueling three-set battle against Riku Hanato.

However, Tokyo Olympics men's doubles bronze medalists Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik failed to continue the winning streak after falling to Ayato Endo-Yuta Takei in straight sets.

Malaysia then proceeded to lose the third game and trailed 1-2 despite Aidil Sholeh Ali Sadikin's best efforts to take down Koo Takahashi in a nail-biting 76 minute match.

Thankfully, men's doubles Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Mohd Rumsani restored the hopes of Malaysian fans after winning 17-21, 21-17, 21-17 over Shuntaro Mezaki-Haruya Nishida, tying the score at 2-2.

Leong told [Stadium Astro](https://english.stadiumastro.com/sports-badminton/asia-team-championships-malaysia-face-south-korea-semis-after-slim-win-over-japan-209668) that he had never been in a tense situation like this before.

> **I've never played in a team event where the score was 2-2. I'm grateful I was able to contribute the winning point. It was a stressful scenario because the Japanese put me through a lot of ordeals.**

"I simply told myself to keep calm and take it one step at a time," he added.

Malaysia's men and women's team will be facing South Korea while Singapore will take on Indonesia after crushing Kazakhstan 5-0.

***READ ALSO: [Lee Zii Jia Establishes His Own Badminton Club And Appoints Indra Wijaya As Coach](https://weirdkaya.com/lee-zii-jia-badminton-club-indra-wijaya/)***

Cover image via [Facebook/ Badmintonwithu2013](https://www.facebook.com/Badmintonwithu2013/photos/7276556079051327)

**Editor: **Sarah Yeoh