PENANG shuttlers redeemed themselves after missing out on gold at the recent Sukma (Malaysia Games) by clinching victory in the Under-18 Inter-State Mixed Team Championships at Dewan Gan Hong Hoe in Melaka today.
The Penang team, which had finished runners-up to Johor in the same tournament last year, defeated Selangor 4-2 in the final to secure the championship.
From the outset of the tournament on Sept 4, Penang players had been in great form, dominating their group matches, including a 7-0 victory over Melaka, to become the group champions.
They progressed by overcoming Kuala Lumpur 4-1 in the quarter-finals and Kedah 4-1 in the semi-finals.
Penang Badminton Association president Datuk Kah Kau Kiak credited the win to the thorough preparation by the coaches and the hard work of the players.
“We performed well in Sukma, reaching four out of five finals, which was a historic achievement. However, we lost all four finals, securing four silver and one bronze medals, and placed sixth overall in the Sukma badminton competition.
“Winning even one gold from the four finals would have made us the overall champions. But today is our day,” Kah said.
State coach Razlan Abdullah, who was assisted by Ooi Yi Keat and Khor Jing Wen, noted that most of the players from last year’s team were available for this year’s tournament.
“We have a well-rounded team, particularly strong in the singles. All the players worked hard for this tournament,” Razlan said.
“Our next focus will be on the Under-12 and Under-16 inter-state team competitions scheduled for October in Penang.”
The Under-18 Inter-State Mixed Team Championships format includes seven matches: two girls’ singles, two boys’ singles, one girls’ doubles, one boys’ doubles, and one mixed doubles.
In today’s final, Penang started splendidly against Selangor by winning the first three matches.
Sng Wei Ming secured the first point by beating Kong Zhou Swim 21-14, 21-13 in the boys’ singles. Oo Shan Zi doubled Penang’s lead with a 21-12, 21-17 win over Eng Ler Qi in the girls’ singles.
Tan Kean Wei stretched Penang’s lead to 3-0 with an easy 21-14, 21-14 victory over Au Wei Shan in the second boys’ singles.
Penang needed one more win to seal the title. Lim Zhi Shin looked poised for victory when she won the first game 21-10 against Carine Tee in the girls’ singles. However, Carine rallied to win the next two games 21-16, 21-14 to keep Selangor’s hopes alive.
Selangor then claimed victory in the boys’ doubles, with Muhammad Faiq-Lok Hong Quan beating Penang’s Muhamad Adam Haris-Nixon Ang Jia Shen 21-13, 21-18.
In the tense girls’ doubles, Penang’s Celine Ng-Tan Zhing Hui won the first game 21-9 against Lee Yu Shan-Tan Xin Yu of Selangor, but had to battle through the second game, ultimately winning 23-21 to secure Penang’s decisive fourth point.
With the match won 4-2, the final mixed doubles match between Tan Zhi Yang-Nicole Tan Pei of Penang and Goh Yi Qin-Clarissa San was not played.
In the playoff for third placing, Johor, the defending champions, defeated Kedah 4-0.
RESULTS:
Final:
Penang bt Selangor 4-2 (Penang’s names first):
Boys’ singles: Sng Wei Ming bt Kong Zhou Swin 21-14, 21-13.
Girls’ singles: Oo Shan Zi bt Eng Ler Qi 21-12, 21-17.
Boys’ singles: Tan Kean Wei bt Au Wei Shan 21-14, 21-14.
Girls’ singles: Lim Zhi Shin lost to Carine Tee 21-10, 16-21, 14-21.
Boys’ doubles: Muhamad Adam Haris-Nixon Ang Jia Shen lost to Muhammad Faiz-Lok Hong Quan 13-21, 18-21.
Girls’ doubles: Celine Ng-Tan Zhing Hui bt Lee Yu Shan-Tan Xin Yu 21-9, 23-21.
3rd-4th placings:
Johor bt Kedah 4-0 (Johor’s names first)
Girls’ singles: Zi Yu Low bt Ooi Yu Han 21-14, 17-21, 21-13.
Girls’ doubles: Carmen Ting-Yue Qin Wong bt Nurin Zahirah Haizal-Rachel Tan Jin En 21-11, 21-11.
Boys’ singles: Gavin Ng Jing Yi bt Chua Yi Xuan 21-18, 21-9.
Girls’ singles: Tania Nair Navin Kumar bt Loo Wan Zhen 24-22, 21-6.
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix courtesy of Penang Badminton Association