PENANG have garnered three more gold medals in the Malaysian Games (Sukma) 2018, totalling 10 gold medals so far.
The state’s shuttlers took home a gold medal today (Sept 14) after they defeated Wilayah Persekutuan in the Men’s Team final.
The first single match between Yeoh Seng Zoe (Penang) and Leong Jun Hao (Wilayah Persekutuan) was rather suspenseful.
Yeoh defeated Leong 21-18 in the first set but failed to secure the second set, losing 17-21.
The rubber set saw both Yeoh and Leong tied at 20-20 before Yeoh overcame Leong 22-20, securing the first match.
In the second single match, shuttler Tan Jia Wei (Penang) easily tamed Muhammad Aiman from Wilayah Persekutuan, thrashing the latter 21-8 and 21-5, winning the match in straight set.
Wilayah Persekutuan’s Lim Chong King tried his best to redeem a match but his effort was futile.
Penang’s third single shuttler Cheam June Wei was clearly the better player when he won straight set 21-12 and 21-15 against Chong King.
Coach Razlan Rajan Abdullah said he told his players to target and bring home a gold medal for the Men’s Team this year.
“When our first single won the match, I am confident that we can bag the gold medal.
“We are very happy with the result as we managed to achieve our target in delivering a gold medal from the Men’s Team,” he said.
Cheam said the Penang shuttlers took every opportunity to improve their badminton skills prior to the Sukma 2018.
“We targeted the gold medal but we did not look down on our opponents.
“All we could do was not to lose our focus.
“Today’s matches were challenging. Our opponents from Wilayah Persekutuan were strong.
“Our Penang supporters are the best. They cheered and encouraged us to continue fighting.
“That boosted our fighting spirits,” he added.
Judokas Amir Daniel Abdul Majeed and Lim Yi Zheng topped the Men’s judo (Nage-no-kata) grabbing the gold medal for Penang.
The state’s women judokas Tan Kei Yi and Siti Nur Aisyah Che Adzmi also delivered a gold medal in the Women’s judo (Ju-no-kata).
Penang Youths and Sports Committee chairman Soon Lip Chee and Penang Sports Council director Frederick Tan congratulated the medallists for their success.
Story by Christopher Tan
Pix by Darwina Mohd Daud and Penang Sports Council