KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian shuttlers are assured of a medal at the World Junior Championships after reaching the semi-finals of the mixed team event in Nanchang, China, today (Oct 3).
National junior chief coach Jeffer Rosobin had predicted that the new scoring system would help Malaysia win a medal, and his team did just that.
Malaysia beat European powerhouses Denmark 110-85 in the last eight.
Malaysia won all 10 games played under the new scoring system where a match begins with a 11-point game, and the team that reach 110 points first are declared the winners.
The scoring system was introduced by Badminton World Federation to give the lesser known countries a better fighting chance against strong badminton nations.
However, 14-time mixed team winners China faced a strong challenge from Taiwan before managing a 110-74 win to book their semi-final meeting against Malaysia.
"We achieved our target of reaching the semi-finals. China are favourites but I believe we have a chance of upstaging our opponents.
"Although we have secured a medal, we want to turn it into silver or gold," said Jeffer.
Malaysia won a bronze at last year's world mixed team event in Spokane, United States.