After years of not winning the mixed team title, they won it for the first time in a long while, back in 2006.. and now, 4 years later, they've defended their Mixed Team title, after a hard fought battle against first time finalists, India, winning 3-1...
First up was Mixed Doubles, and just as 4 years ago, Malaysia decided to pair a scratch pair, Koo Kien Keat and Chin Eei Hui, against Diju V and Jwala Gutta... and the scratch pair gave Malaysia the perfect start, winning against the more fancied and higher ranked pair 21-14 10-21 21-10.
Next was Men's Singles, and Lee Chong Wei faced the dangerous up and coming Parapulli Kashyap, and the first game was neck to neck, with both players trading smashes and wonderful net exchanges... Eventually Lee Chong Wei held his nerve to win the opening game 21-18, and from then on controlled the second set to win 21-8, and give Malaysia a 2-0 lead in the team event.
Third match was Women's Singles, and Wong Mew Choo faced an uphill battle against the in form Saina Nehwal, home crowd as well... This match was a classic on the cards, and a classic it was. Both players going neck to neck, and really fighting hard for every point, a trademark of both Mew Choo and Saina... 1st set went to Mew Choo 26-24, after a nerve wrecking tiebreaker. At this point, Malaysia were a set away from the title, but Saina had other ideas, as she took the next two sets 21-17, 21-14, and winning a point for India. 2-1 now.
With the vociferous home crowd now cheering India on, the following match is Men's Doubles, and on paper it was a banker for Malaysia, with World No.1 Koo Kien Keat and Tan Boon Heong facing Rupesh Kumar and Sanave Thomas. Koo and Tan raced out of the blocks, and started fast, thundering down smashes and decisive net plays, to take the 1st set 21-12. The second looked like a formality, but Koo and Tan were made to fight for each point, and made to sweat, before finally winning a close set 21-19, and with it victory for Malaysia!
Eventually Malaysia won 3-1, and congratulations to the team! Congratulations to India as well, Silver medalists, and England, Bronze medalists... On to the individual badminton competition!
