Seventeen-year-old badminton prospect Kong Wei Xiang said his hard-fought match against Indonesia’s veteran Anthony Ginting at the Asia Team Championships was an important learning experience, even though Malaysia fell just short in the tie.
Malaysia lost 2-3 to Indonesia in their Group D encounter in Qingdao, China, with the final match between Wei Xiang and Ginting deciding the overall result. The Malaysian teenager pushed the Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist through three games before losing 17-21, 21-13, 16-21, demonstrating resilience against a world-class opponent.
Wei Xiang, currently ranked 343rd in the world, was making his debut in a senior team event. He said competing at that level has given him confidence and clear targets for improvement.
“The match was a huge challenge. I gave everything I had, and I am grateful for the chance to test myself at this level,” he said. “The result was not what I hoped for, but the experience has taught me valuable lessons and boosted my confidence.”
Wei Xiang identified his attacking play as an area for development. He said keeping pace with elite speed was positive for his defence and anticipation, but he must work on converting defensive play into stronger offensive opportunities to compete with higher-ranked players.
Although Malaysia’s campaign ended with a quarter-final exit following a 0-3 defeat to Japan, the performance of young players such as Wei Xiang offered encouragement for the national team’s future.
Wei Xiang, who hails from Bukit Mertajam, Penang, has won Malaysia’s Under-18 and Under-21 national titles. He will next compete at the Dutch Junior International in Haarlem from February 25 to March 1.
