After winning the first and third singles matches and losing the first doubles tie with the score tied at 2-2, Malaysia’s junior women’s pair Low Zi Yu-Noraqilah Maisarah Ramdan came to the rescue by defeating Yasmen Bektas-Zehra Erdem 21-18, 21-19 in the final match.

Malaysia are strongly tipped to enter the quarter-finals as they are expected to win their next match against minnows South Africa in their second Group B tie on Monday. They play group favourites Japan two days after that.

Malaysia got off to a winning start in the first singles when K Letshanaa defeated Neslihan Arin, who is ranked four places above her at No 30, in three games of 21-16, 13-21, 21-13 in 57 minutes.

However, in the second singles, Wong Ling Ching, the world No 38, was a letdown as she lost to the 78th ranked Ozke Bayrak 17-21, 21-15, 18-21 in 67 minutes for Turkey to level the series at 1-1.

Third-singles player Goh Jin Wei regained Malaysia’s lead when she easily defeated Zehra Erdem 21-14, 21-13 in just 31 minutes.

The new doubles combination of M Thinaah-Ong Xin Yee were expected to deliver the winning point but lost to Bengisu Ercetin-Nazlican Inzi 22-20, 19-21, 17- 21 in a 59-minute battle.

Malaysia had resorted to playing the scratch pair after Thinaah’s regular partner Pearly Tan pulled out of the tournament with a back injury.

A fresh draw for the quarter-finals will occur after the top two teams from the four groups are decided on Wednesday.