Uber Cup: Zi Yu Never Expected Crucial Deciding Role

From Amiril Muttaqien Meketar

HORSENS (Denmark), April 25 (Bernama) -- Young National women’s doubles pair Low Zi Yu-Noraqilah Maisarah Ramdan did not expect to be thrust into such a high-pressure situation but when the moment came, they delivered.

With the Uber Cup Finals 2026 Group B opening tie against Türkiye locked at 2-2 after the fourth match, the responsibility fell on the debutants to decide the outcome, a scenario Zi Yu admitted caught them by surprise.

“Firstly, of course we felt the pressure because we didn't think we'll be 2-2 but then we just played (main sahaja), just play without much thought,” she told Bernama when met after the match.

Echoing Zi Yu, Noraqilah said the key to their victory was keeping things simple and not letting the occasion overwhelm them.

Zi Yu-Noraqilah emerged as Malaysia’s unlikely heroes, sealing the decisive point after surviving a strong Turkish fightback.

The country’s second women’s doubles pair showed composure to overcome Yasemen Bektas-Zehra Erdem 21-18, 21-19 in 44 minutes and rescue Malaysia from an early scare by emerging with a 3-2 win over their opponent.

Meanwhile, team captain, M. Thinaah said she and partner Ong Xin Yee were unable to execute their game plan consistently under pressure which caused them to go down 22-20, 19-21, 19-21 to Bengisu Ercetin-Nazlican Inci in the fourth match.

“Our performance just now was certainly disappointing lah. We are very sorry for not delivering the winning point for Malaysia. Hopefully we can comeback stronger after this,” she said.

In the meantime, second singles and world No. 38 Wong Ling Ching, who was stunned by world No. 78  Ozge Bayrak 17-21, 21-15, 18-21 in the second match, admitted she was far from fully fit and still struggling with back pain that affected her movement and rhythm on court.

The 22-year-old said she had already anticipated a difficult match, having entered the tournament without full training due to injury setbacks picked up during the training camp in Herning, Denmark, recently.

Earlier, Malaysia earned their first point through main singles K. Letshanaa, who battled through nearly an hour before overcoming Neslihan Arin 21-16, 12-21, 21-13 while professional player Goh Jin Wei delivered the second point for Malaysia, thanks to a convincing 21-14 21-13 victory over Erdem.

Malaysia will play South Africa in their second Group B match tomorrow followed by Japan on April 27.

-- BERNAMA