KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s challenge came to a grinding halt in the World Junior Championships in Bangkok with the defeats of Soong Joo Ven and Darren Isaac Devadass-Ong Yew Sing on Friday.
The 18-year-old Joo Ven ran out of steam, losing 21-11, 13-21, 10-21 to Taiwanese Wang Tzu-wei in the boys’ singles quarter-final match which lasted 49 minutes.
Joo Ven was disappointed that he could not bid farewell to his final junior tournament with a flourishing end. 
“I started well in the opening game but my attacking game went off course and I could not get the results I wanted,” he lamented.
“I am very upset with my defeat today because I really had a good chance against my opponent. I apologise for letting everyone down – especially my parents and friends, who have been very supportive.
“Now, I will turn my attention to the senior squad. It will be tougher, but I am ready to go the extra mile to become better,” he added.
Malaysia suffered another blow when Darren Isaac Devadass-Ong Yew Sin went down fighting to Tien Tzu-chieh-Wang Chi-lin 18-21, 21-15, 19-21 in a closely-fought boys’ doubles quarter-final match that lasted for 42 minutes.
Darren-Yew Sin had the Taiwanese pair by the throat at 19-19 in the decider but two sloppy mistakes saw them losing ground and eventually exiting the competition.
Darren put it down to having run out of luck.
“We played well and our defence was good but we were unlucky in the front court. At 19-19, I sent the shuttle to the net and we gave away another point when my partner did the same.
“Yew Sin and I will concentrate on the Malaysian International tournament next and hopefully, after that we can move into the senior squad and work on our attacking game,” he said.
With the wipeout of Malaysians in the tournament, the country will not have a representative in the semi-finals of the series for the first time in many years.
For the record, Malaysia have had seven world junior champions in the boys’ doubles (Chan Chong Ming-Jeremy Gan, Chong Ming-Teo Kok Seng, Hoon Thien How-Tan Boon Heong, Mak Hee Chun-Teo Kok Siang, Chooi Kah Ming-Ow Yao Han, Yao Han-Yew Hong Kheng and Nelson Heg Wei Keat-Teo Ee Yi); two in the mixed doubles (Chan Chong Ming-Joanne Quay, Lim Khim Wah-Ng Hui Lin); and one in the boys’ singles (Zulfadli Zulkifli).
