29 Dec Defending Champions Fall Short

Reigning champions, Petaling Jaya Badminton Club (BC) fell to a shock 5-12 defeat in the hands of Cheras BC during their SS Purple League (SSPL) 2017/18 Phase 1 match at the Sports Arena Sentosa, Old Klang Road.

Cheras BC got off to a wonderful start after Chong Yee Han’s 3-0 (11-5, 11-10, 11-7) win over Petaling Jaya BC’s skipper Goh Giap Chin in the first men’s singles match.

Petaling Jaya BC clawed their way back into the tie thanks to their Thai import, Supanida Katethong’s 3-0 (11-5, 11-6, 11-7) trashing over Cheras BC’s Grace Chua Hui Zhen.

Cheras BC’s Chong Yee Han ensured his team got off on the right foot as he defeated Petaling Jaya BC’s skipper, Goh Giap Chin 3-0 during their SSPL 2017/18 Phase 1 match at the Sports Arena Sentosa, Old Klang Road earlier today.

But it was Cheras BC who regained the lead in the overall score (6-5) as their men’s doubles pair of Mohd Arif Ab Latif and Danny Bawa Chrisnanta defeated Petaling Jaya BC’s Chooi Kah Ming and Low Juan Shen 3-2 (11-3, 9-11, 10-11, 11-9, 11-9).

Payee Lim Peiy Yee and Terry Hee Yong Kai performed exceptionally well to beat Petaling Jaya BC’s Woon Khe Wei and K. Yogendran 3-0 (11-10, 11-10, 11-6) in the mixed doubles match and seal the shock win for Cheras BC.

“I am so thrilled with my win today – playing against Yogendran and Woon Khe Wei is never an easy task but to win 3-0 is fantastic. This is my first match playing with Terry and we clicked instantly. I hope that this win will spur us on in coming matches,” said Cheras BC’s Payee Lim after her match.

With the outcome of the match already decided, Cheras BC’s Tommy Sugiarto recorded a vital 3-0 (11-10, 11-9, 11-8) win over Lee Cheuk Yiu of Petaling Jaya BC in the final match of the night to push his team all the way to third place in the SSPL 2017/18 standings.

At 4pm today, Puchong United BC asserted their dominance with yet another commanding performance, this time beating Serdang BC 14-3 during their SSPL 2017/18 Phase 1 match at the Sports Arena Sentosa, Old Klang Road.

Minnows Serdang BC started well as Xu Yiming managed to hold Puchong United BC’s Liew Daren to a 2-2 (11-10, 7-11, 7-11, 8-7) draw in the first men’s singles. But the ever-reliable Japanese international, Aya Ohori extended her personal unbeaten streak by beating Serdang BC’s Huang Qiong Hui 3-0 (11-5, 11-7, 11-9) in the women’s singles match.

Playing together for the first time in the SSPL 2017/18, national men’s doubles Ong Yew Sin and Teo Ee Yi made no mistakes in their straight sets 3-0 (11-10, 11-9, 11-6) win over Serdang BC’s Mohd Syazmil Idham and Ong Wei Khoon in the third match of the game.

Another straight sets win in the mixed doubles match for Puchong United BC helped secure their fifth win of the season. Former Olympic 2008 winner Lee Hyo Jung and her partner, Lim Khim Wah beat Serdang BC’s pair of Lim Jee Lyn and Pei Tianyi 3-0 (11-7, 11-9, 11-10).

Wei Nan added the icing on the cake as the Puchong United BC’s Hong Kong import easily overcame Serdang BC’s Leong Jun Hao 3-1 (3-11, 11-6, 11-5, 11-5) in the last men’s singles match.

“In the SS Purple League, all men’s doubles pairs are equal because anything can happen in the 11 points and 30 minutes system. This requires a high level of focus from the players which suits us fine as it helps us to keep our edge,” said Puchong United BC’s Ong Yew Sin.

“Our team has the highest chance of capturing the SSPL title this season as we have bags of talents in our squad and our players are always ready to give their best for the team when called upon,” added Ong.

With that huge victory, Puchong United BC now have an unassailable 18-point lead over second place, Petaling BC.

SSPL 2017/18 Phase 1 Results (29/12/2017)
(4pm) Serdang BC lost to Puchong United BC 3-14
MS2: Xu Yiming drew with Liew Daren 2-2 (11-10, 7-11, 7-11, 8-7)
WS: Huang Qiong Hui lost to Aya Ohori 0-3 (5-11, 7-11, 9-11)
MD: Mohd Syazmil Idham-Ong Wei Khoon lost to Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi 0-3 (10-11, 9-11, 6-11)
XD: Lim Jee Lynn-Pei Tianyi lost to Lee Hyo Jung-Lim Khim Wah 0-3 (7-11, 9-11, 10-11)
MS1: Leong Jun Hao lost to Wei Nan 1-3 (11-3, 6-11, 5-11, 5-11)

(8pm) Petaling Jaya BC lost to Cheras BC 5-12
MS2: Goh Giap Chin lost to Chong Yee Han 0-3 (5-11, 10-11, 7-11)
WS: Supanida Katethong bt Grace Chua Hui Zhen 3-0 (11-5, 11-6, 11-7)
MD: Chooi Kah Ming-Low Juan Shen lost to Danny Bawa Chrisnanta-Mohd Arif Ab Latif 2-3 (3-11, 11-9, 11-10, 9-11, 9-11)
XD: K. Yogendran-Woon Khe Wei lost to Payee Lim Peiy Yee-Terry Hee Yong Kai 0-3 (10-11, 10-11, 6-11)
MS1: Lee Cheuk Yiu lost to Tommy Sugiarto 0-3 (10-11, 9-11, 8-11)