Top seeds Japan and Indonesia entered the Sudirman Cup 2025 quarter-finals in Xiamen as group toppers on Thursday.
Already-qualified Malaysia gave Japan a scare in Group C by taking the first two rubbers.
Chen Tang Jie / Toh Ee Wei easily defeated Midorikawa Hiroki / Igarashi Arisa in straight games while Leong Jun Hao clinched a surprising win over World No.8 Naraoka Kodai in the men’s singles event.
But a strong Japan side came from behind to take the next three individual matches.
Miyazaki Tomoka beat Goh Jin Wei 21-14, 21-17 while former World No.1 Hoki Takuro / Kobayashi Yugo stunned star Malaysian pair Aaron Chia / Soh Wooi Yik in a three-game thriller to draw 2-2 level.
The decider was between Matsuyama Nami / Shida Chiharu and Pearly Tan / Thinaah Muralitharan was 83 minute long. The Japanese pair held their nerve to clinch a 21-18, 18-21, 21-18 victory.
Indonesia, meanwhile, clinched a comfortable 4-1 victory over Denmark.
Denmark’s lone point came in the opening mixed doubles rubber where World No.33 Alwi Farhan shocked Anders Antonsen in the men’s singles rubber 21-17, 15-21, 21-17 to set the tone for the remainder of the tie.
All four teams joined People’s Republic of China, Thailand, Republic of Korea, and Chinese Taipei in the last eight.