Malaysia were denied a long-awaited win over Japan after a narrow 3-2 defeat in the final Group C tie at the Sudirman Cup 2025 in Xiamen on Wednesday.

A dream start saw Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei and Leong Jun Hao deliver early points overcoming Hiroki Midorikawa-Arisa Higashino 21-19, 21-18 and upsetting world No. 8 Kodai Naraoka 21-8, 13-21, 21-18 respectively to give Malaysia a 2-0 lead. 

However, Japan clawed back through Tomoka Miyazaki, who beat Goh Jin Wei in the women’s singles 21-14, 21-17 in a battle of former world junior champions, before momentum shifted in the men’s doubles. Despite holding two match points, Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik narrowly lost out to Takuro Hoki-Yugo Kobayashi — eventually falling 12-21, 22-20, 23-21.

In the deciding women’s doubles, Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah battled valiantly but fell just short against long-time rivals Chiharu Shida-Nami Matsuyama, who edged the match 21-18, 18-21, 21-18.

Malaysia finish second in Group C and now face a quarter-final clash against a group winner, with China, Indonesia, and Korea all potential opponents.