GUANGZHOU - Malaysian team manager Maijol Mahap was delighted to have helped Malaysia reach the semi-finals of the tournament for the first time.
'Before we left for this tournament we were asked by the media what our chances were,' he said.
'We told them the semi-finals and we've achieved that today, so I want to congratulate my players and coaches.'
In group three, India beat Bulgaria 3-0 in the final to gain promotion to group two, while Australia were relegated.
Earlier, Russia beat the Netherlands in group two and will face Thailand on Friday to decide which team gets promoted to the top flight.
Meanwhile, China showed why they are favourites to retain the Sudirman Cup as they thrashed a weakened Indonesia.
China's third 5-0 win in a row at a nearly full Guangzhou Gymnasium in southern China was greeted with delirium by a passionate and patriotic home crowd who cheered every point like it was the championship final.
In the final four on Saturday of the biennial world team championships, holders and six-time winners China will play Malaysia, while Indonesia go up against South Korea in the second all-Asian affair. -- AFP
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