Malaysia take Suhandinata Cup silver after China win world junior mixed team final 2-1 in Cairo

Malaysia's junior shuttlers came home with silver from the BWF World Junior Mixed Team Championships after China beat them 2-1 in the Suhandinata Cup final at the Cairo International Stadium in Egypt on Saturday 10 October. Malaysia forced a deciding set by winning the second 55-53, but defending champions China pulled clear in the third to win it 55-45.

How the final unfolded

The Suhandinata Cup uses a relay format: each tie is played over a best of three sets, and each set is a race to 55 points across five matches in women's singles, men's singles, women's doubles, mixed doubles and men's doubles.

China set the tone in the first set. Yin Yi Qing gave them an early edge against Saidatul Saadiah Muhammad in women's singles, Luo Jing Yu extended it against Tiew Wei Jie, and the Chinese stayed in front through the doubles to take the set 55-46.

Malaysia's response in the second set was the highlight of their week. China still led after the two singles matches, but Genevie Lim and Low Zi Yu turned the set in women's doubles, and the Malaysian doubles combinations held on to edge it 55-53 and force a decider.

China's experience tells in the decider

The third set went China's way from the start. Yin and Luo again built a lead in the singles, and the Chinese doubles pairs protected it. Mixed doubles pair Feng Yi Lang and Li Meng Han kept Malaysia at arm's length, and China's men's doubles pair finished the job as China won the set 55-45 and the tie 2-1.

A week that ended a long wait

Silver still represents real progress. Malaysia had not reached the title match since 2017, when they also met China in the final in Yogyakarta and lost 3-1.

To get there this time, the Malaysians beat 2024 champions Indonesia 2-0 in Friday's semi-final, winning the sets 55-49 and 55-42. Men's doubles pair Damien Ling and Irfan Shazmir closed out the first set, and Isyraf Hafizin Ibrahim and Ahmad Redzuan Zulwaqqarizal sealed the second. China had reached the final by beating Thailand 2-0.

Taking a set off China in the final, after sweeping Indonesia, suggests the group has the depth to compete with the strongest junior nations rather than relying on one or two standout players.

Individual events next

The championships do not end with the team event. The individual competition in Cairo runs until 17 October, giving players such as Tiew Wei Jie, Genevie Lim and Low Zi Yu another chance to chase world junior medals on their own or in pairs.

For the Badminton Association of Malaysia, the bigger picture is how many of these juniors can make the step to senior level, with the 2027 SEA Games on home soil less than a year away.

Key takeaways

• China beat Malaysia 2-1 in the Suhandinata Cup final in Cairo on Saturday 10 October.
• Set scores were 55-46 to China, 55-53 to Malaysia and 55-45 to China.
• It was Malaysia's first appearance in the final since 2017, when they also lost to China.
• Malaysia beat 2024 champions Indonesia 2-0 in the semi-finals.
• The individual events at the World Junior Championships continue in Cairo until 17 October.

FAQ

What was the score in the Suhandinata Cup 2026 final? China won 2-1. They took the first set 55-46, Malaysia won the second 55-53, and China won the decider 55-45.

When did Malaysia last reach the Suhandinata Cup final? In 2017 in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, when they lost 3-1 to China.

Are the World Junior Championships over? No. The team event has finished, but the individual events continue in Cairo until 17 October.

Sources: Bernama, BWF, New Straits Times, The Star, BadmintonPlanet