Team China poses on the podium during the award ceremony after winning the final against Malaysia at the BWF World Junior Team Championships 2026 in Cairo, Egypt, Oct. 10, 2026. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)
CAIRO, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- China successfully defended its title at the Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Junior Team Championships on Saturday, defeating Malaysia 2-1 in a dramatic final that saw both teams battle through three closely contested sets.
The Chinese team won the opening set 55-46 before Malaysia fought back to take the second 55-53. China then regained control in the deciding set, winning 55-45 to lift the Suhandinata Cup.
The final was closely contested, with China recovering from 43-50 to level the second set at 52-52 before Malaysia held on to force a decider. China built an early lead in the third set through women's and men's singles and maintained its advantage despite Malaysia's late challenge.
China's coach Guo Zhendong credited the team's balanced strength across all five disciplines and praised the players' composure under pressure.
"In the deciding third game, we had a clear advantage in the singles events and managed to build a substantial lead. Although Malaysia narrowed the gap by several points during the women's doubles, our players managed to withstand the pressure and ultimately defend our title," Guo said, adding that the experience of handling pressure in closely contested matches would benefit their future development.
Feng Yilang, an 18-year-old Chinese player who competed in mixed doubles, acknowledged feeling nervous during the opening two sets but said he became more confident as the final progressed.
"In the third game, I was able to relax more and play with greater confidence. My performance was better than in the first two games," Feng said.
His teammate Wei Yueyue, also 18, who competed in women's doubles, identified "team unity" as the key to China's victory.
"Whenever we face difficulties, there is always someone who steps up. That's what makes our team so united," she said.
Malaysia's team manager Vincent Chin praised his players' determination despite the defeat, saying they fought until the final set.
"We are happy that we got a silver medal in the team event, but we are looking for the gold medal in the individual event," Chin told Xinhua, expressing optimism about the upcoming individual championships.
Thailand and Indonesia shared the bronze medals after losing their semifinals to China and Malaysia, respectively.
Looking ahead to the individual championships, which begin Monday in Cairo, Guo said the Chinese team would review its performances and allow the players time to recover before preparing for the different technical and tactical demands of the five disciplines.
"We will continue to give our best and strive for strong performances in the individual events," he said. ■
Team China poses on the podium during the award ceremony after winning the final against Malaysia at the BWF World Junior Team Championships 2026 in Cairo, Egypt, Oct. 10, 2026. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)
Yin Yiqing of China competes in the women's single match against Saidatul Saadiah Muhammad of Malaysia during the final against Malaysia at the BWF World Junior Team Championships 2026 in Cairo, Egypt, Oct. 10, 2026. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)
Hong Tianyue of China competes in the men's single match against Wei Jie Tiew of Malaysia during the final against Malaysia at the BWF World Junior Team Championships 2026 in Cairo, Egypt, Oct. 10, 2026. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)
Tu Yichen (L)/Zheng Weigang of China compete in the men's doubles match against Damien Ling /Irfan M Shazmir of Malaysia during the final against Malaysia at the BWF World Junior Team Championships 2026 in Cairo, Egypt, Oct. 10, 2026. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)
