Kuala Lumpur, May 16: Hosts Malaysia made an embarassing exit from the Thomas Cup on home soil when they were beaten by European champions Denmark 3-2 in the last of the Blue Group matches.

The defeat is like to have greater implications on officials of the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM).

Immediately after Jen Eriksen-Jesper Olsen defeated veterans Cheah Soon Kit-Yap Kim Hock in the second doubles to clinch the winning third point, Malaysian fans raised a banner demanding the resignation of BAM president Datuk Dr Abdullah Fadzil Che Wan.

Wong Choong Hann was the first Malaysian to bite the dust at the Putra Stadium. Playing world No.1 Peter Gade-Christensen, Choong Hann was humbled 7-15, 6-15.

However, Malaysia's first doubles pair Lee Wah Wah-Choong Tan Fook gave the hosts a lifeline when they defeated Martin Lungaard-Lars Paaske 15-12, 15-10.

But the Danes regained the lead when Olympic champion Poul-Erik Hoyer-Larsen outlasted Ong Ewe Hock, winning the match 17-14, 15-12.

All Malaysian hopes rested on experienced pair Soon Kit-Kim Hock to square the team score for the second time. But this did not materialise as they went down 8-15, 15-8, 5-15.

Today's exit would be the third time in the history of the Thomas Cup where Malaysia failed to make it to the semifinal. The first was in 1984 and the second in 1996.

In the third singles match Kenneth Jonassen defeated Yong Hock Kin 6-15, 17-14, 15-1 to complete the Malaysian rout.

Denmark's coach Kenneth Larsen paid tribute to his players saying that they fought seven players and 10,000 fans to achieve the win over Malaysia.

"Before coming here, our target was to reach the semifinal and I thought it would be Malaysia and us. Now we have South Korea for company," he said.

"Gade-Christensen gave us a good start. We were sure that he would do it. But it was golden Olympian Poul-Erik Hoyer-Larsen's win over Ong Ewe Hock which turned the tide for us," Larsen said.