KUALA LUMPUR: Indonesia loom as Malaysia's biggest early obstacle after the national men's team were drawn with the Asian powerhouse in Group D of the Badminton Asia Team Championships (BATC) in Qingdao, China from Feb 3-8. Because we are not seeded, we will have to face a seeded team in the knockout round. In contrast, the women's team face a more straightforward path in Group W, where they have been drawn with China. With only two teams in the group, Malaysia are guaranteed a place in the knockout stage and will also avoid the Asian giants in the quarter-finals. The Malaysian men won the BATC title in 2022 but the women's team are still chasing a first final appearance, with their best performances being semi-final finishes in 2020 and 2022.

Source: New Strait Times January 10, 2026 07:10 UTC