There was eerie silence at the venue of the Thomas/Uber Cup Qualifiers at the Forum Macau. But on occasions several cheers broke out from the stands as the only tie for the evening session was being played.
Sayali took the first set easily 21-11 but lost the second 15-21. And in the dead rubber it was Sayali who led comfortabl. 11-2 at one stage. But it was scripted in heavens that Malaysia will be the team playing in the last eight as Li Lian won 22-20.
"I never expected it to come to this as I was a reserve in the team and did not even though that I will get a chance to play, " said an elated Li Lian who is 19.
"When I was down in the rubber, all I was doing was to collect one point at a time and suddenly my opponent felt the pressure more then me.
"There is no such thing as me being a hero as it was a team effort and I am happy to have contributed to the team."
In the opening singles, Saina Nehwal who was still feeling the effects of a viral fever defeated Tee Jing Yi 21-17, 21-16. But the Malaysian had herself to blame, leading 7-0 in the first set and Saina looking a pale shadow of herself.
But instead of taking advantage of the frail Saina, Jing Yi was the one who sent the shuttle out most of the time.
But Malaysia were on level terms as ace doubles pair Chin Eei Hui/Wong Pei tty defeated the flamboyant Jwala Gutta and her partner Ashwini Ponnappa 21-12, 21-16 in just 34 minutes.
The superiority in the Indian singles showed yet again as PV Sindhu came from a set down to defeat Lydia Cheah 16-21, 21-13,21-9.
But the Malaysian doubles pair of Goh Liu Ying/Vivian Hoo defeated Prajakata Sawant/Pradnya Gadre 21-17, 21-17.
And the stage was set for youngster Li Lian to break the hearts of the Indians and send them out of the last eight.
