The Malaysian contingent got their Tokyo Olympics campaign off to a disappointing start, as national women’s doubles pair Chow Mei Kuan-Lee Meng Yean succumbed to a limp 14-21, 17-21 defeat against Greysia Polli-Apriyani Rahayu.
The Indonesians were far the superior pair throughout the 47 minutes, dictating the tempo and forcing the Malaysians into numerous unforced errors.
With Apriyani dictating the back court playing almost like a men’s doubles shuttler with thunderous jumping smashes, the Malaysians were forced into defending for most of the match to fend off the attacks.
Chow-Lee only had a brief spell where they led in the opening exchanges of the first game, but once their opponents found their stride, the Malaysians found themselves on the back foot.
This defeat means they have to win both their matches against Japan’s top seeds Sayaka Hirota-Yuki Fukuhisma and English pair Chloe Birch-Lauren Smith to stand a chance to make the quarter-finals.
The world number 11 pair will have to raise their game by a distance against both pairs whom they have never beaten before.
Later today, men’s doubles pair Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik will be in action against South Korea’s Choi Sol-gyu (5pm), followed by mixed doubles Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying against Hong Kong pair Tang Chun Man-Tse Ying Suet (6:20pm) local time.