Kuala Lumpur, May 13: Little Malaysian women showed their male counterparts what fighting spirit is all about when they put up a spirited display against Japan today.

Only the lack of experience saw Malaysia lose 2-3 to the mighty Japanese who were eager to win after losing to Indonesia on Day 1.

It was the two doubles pairs who earned Malaysia the recognition today.

Lim Pek Siah-Joanne Quay, ranked 35th in the world showed classy stuff to down world No. 15 Yoshiko Iwata-Haruko Matsuda 15-13, 15-11.

Their spirited display was emulated by the second doubles pair Sandy Chor-Ang Li Peng. The duo outlasted Chikako Nakayama-Naomi Murakami 10-15, 15-11,17-15.

Their win put Malaysia on level trms with Japan. In the third singles, the deiciding tie, Japan's Miho Tanaka proved too strong for Woon Sze Mei. The Japanese lass won 13-10, 11-4.

Earlier in the second singles Japan's Takako Ida defeated Wong Miew Kheng 11-5, 11-0.
Malaysian team manager Lim Teong Kiat said the Malaysian women played with all their heart.

"They knew that the Japanese girls are strong. But they did not surrender. They went on the give them hell. In the end Japan to rely on their third singles Miho Tanaka to give them the winning point," said Teong Kiat.

Joanne Quay said her win over the Japanese women showed that Malaysia is capable of being among the top nations with proper training and more international exposure.

Sandy Chor said she and partner Li Peng sought inspiration from the effort by Joanne and Pek Siah.

"If they could do why can't we. We just went out there and gave our best," she said.