Line Højmark Kjaersfeldt delivered Denmark’s winning point as they came from behind to defeat a young Malaysian team 3-2 in their opening BWF Uber Cup Finals 2022 Group C tie.
The Danes, favourites to finish group winners, were trailing 2-1 after world No.11 pair Tan Pearly/Thinaah Muralitharan and Goh Jin Wei dragged Malaysia into the lead following wins over Maiken Fruergaard/Sara Thygesen and Line Christophersen respectively.
Former world junior champion Goh, on comeback trail from a career-derailing colectomy surgery, displayed glimpses of her old self in her 21-12 11-21 21-5 victory before Alexandra BØje/Amalie Magelund restored parity against Anna Ching Yik Cheong/Teoh Mei Xing.
The scratch pairing won 21-14 21-10, leaving Kjaersfeldt to see off newcomer Myisha Mohd Khairul.
She did so with aplomb, winning 21-12 21-9 in 33 minutes.
“I’m relieved, if I didn’t win the team would have lost,” admitted the 28-year-old.
“We knew it was going to be tough and were prepared for the 2-2 scoreline. I just reminded myself to enjoy and focus on what I had to do.”
Highlights:
♦ Denmark next play Egypt, who expectedly offered little resistance in their 5-0 loss to host team Thailand, with all their matches ending under 24 minutes.
♦ In Thomas Cup Group C, Chinese Taipei, led by Chou Tien Chen and Olympic gold medallists Lee Yang/Wang Chi-lin won by the same scoreline, with four of their five matches finishing in straight games.
♦ Men’s singles world champion Loh Kean Yew, up against Anthony Sinisuka Ginting, stole a point off Indonesia in Singapore’s opening Group A duel before the title holders won their next four matches. First men’s pair of Hee Yong Kai Terry/Loh Kean Hean briefly threatened to give the underdogs a 2-0 lead by taking the second game against Fajar Alfian/Muhammad Rian Ardianto.