Badminton: Breakthrough performances from back-up players
News 10:26 AM
PETALING JAYA: It was a great finale in the Kedah Open with
several aspiring players achieving breakthrough performances at the KBA
Hall in Alor Star yesterday.
Back-up shuttler Chan Kwong Beng finally ended his title drought when he stopped the gallant run of Goh Soon Huat by winning 21-16, 15-21, 21-18 in an one hour and 16 minutes men’s singles final yesterday.
There were anxious moments for Kwong Beng when he almost froze when the score stood at 18-all in the decider. But he prevailed to grab victory.
“At one point, I could not even feel my hand. I was fearful that I could not win the title despite it being my best chance to do so,” said the 22-year-old Kwong Beng.
“And Soon Huat did not make it easy for me at all. He is such a tricky player. He will take his time to plot for a kill. Fortunately, I was mentally stronger to handle the situation this time.
“It is such a relief for me to win my first Open title. I have been in the back-up squad for almost five years and winning here has given me confidence and hopefully lead to a better future in my career.
“This is a new beginning for me. Next time, I should be winning the local Open title in the presence of the top players. And I should go on and make a impact in the international tournaments too,” said Kwong Beng, who will take part in the Macau Open next.
The fight in the men’s singles was restricted to the back-up and junior players following the absence of world number one Lee Chong Wei and international Mohd Hafiz Hashim.
National coach Hendrawan gave credit to Soon Huat despite the defeat.
“Both Soon Huat and Kwong Beng played well today. I saw the hunger in Kwong Beng to win his first title while Soon Huat was equally eager to prove himself. Eventually, he lost on experience. Time is on his side and we hope he (Soon Huat) will continue to improve,” said Hendrawan.
It was also a great day for another Chan when Peng Soon bagged his first Open title with his partner Goh Liu Ying in the mixed doubles.
Yesterday, top seeds and Thailand Open champions Peng Soon-Liu Ying came back from 2-9 deficit in the rubber game to beat scratched pair Tan Boon Heong-Chin Ee Hui 7-21, 21-15, 21-19 in a 42-minute final.
Said Peng Soon: “Liu Ying and I was staring at defeat in the decider but we did not want to let slip the chance to win our first local title. We fought back and did not buckle under pressure although it was so close.”
It was also a first for Mak Hee Chun-Tan Wee Kiong and Goh Liu Ying-Lim Yin Loo when they emerged as the men and women doubles champions.
There were also excitement in the Division Two competition when Nelson Heg Wei Kiat-Teo Ee Yi upset world junior champions Ow Yao Han-Yew Hong Kheng for a superb 21-12, 18-21, 24-22 win.
It was Nelson-Ee Yi’s first title in Division Two.
At the world juniors in Mexico in April, Yao Han-Hong Kheng had beat Nelson-Ee Yi in the final but yesterday, the outcome was reversed.
Results All Finals
Division One
Men’s singles: Chan Kwong Beng bt Goh Soon Huat 21-16, 15-21, 21-18.
Men’s doubles: Mak Hee Chun-Tan Wee Kiong bt Goh Wei Shem-Teo Kok Siang 21-18,20-22, 21-11.
Women’s singles: Lydia Cheah bt Sonia Cheah 17-21, 21-19, 21-16.
Women’s doubles: Goh Liu Ying-Lim Yin Loo bt Vivian Hoo Kah Mun-Woon Khe Wei 21-18, 21-15.
Mixed doubles: Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying bt Tan Boon Heong-Chin Eei Hui 7-21, 21-15, 21-19.
Division Two
Boys’ singles: Loh Wei Sheng bt Tan Aik Quan 21-16, 21-14.
Boys’doubles: Nelson Heg Wei Kiat-Teo Ee Yi bt Ow Yao Han-Yew Hong Kheng 21-12, 18-21, 24-22
Girls’ singles: Ng Sin Er bt Nurul Hedayu Zainudin 21-9, 21-15.
Girls doubles: Chow Mei Kuan-Lee Meng Yean w.o Lai Pei Jing-Shevon Lai Jemie.
Mixed doubles: Nelson Heg Wei Kiat-Shevon Lai Jemie bt Ow Yao Han-Lai Pei Jing 25-26, 24-22, 6-5 rtd.
Back-up shuttler Chan Kwong Beng finally ended his title drought when he stopped the gallant run of Goh Soon Huat by winning 21-16, 15-21, 21-18 in an one hour and 16 minutes men’s singles final yesterday.
There were anxious moments for Kwong Beng when he almost froze when the score stood at 18-all in the decider. But he prevailed to grab victory.
“At one point, I could not even feel my hand. I was fearful that I could not win the title despite it being my best chance to do so,” said the 22-year-old Kwong Beng.
“And Soon Huat did not make it easy for me at all. He is such a tricky player. He will take his time to plot for a kill. Fortunately, I was mentally stronger to handle the situation this time.
“It is such a relief for me to win my first Open title. I have been in the back-up squad for almost five years and winning here has given me confidence and hopefully lead to a better future in my career.
“This is a new beginning for me. Next time, I should be winning the local Open title in the presence of the top players. And I should go on and make a impact in the international tournaments too,” said Kwong Beng, who will take part in the Macau Open next.
The fight in the men’s singles was restricted to the back-up and junior players following the absence of world number one Lee Chong Wei and international Mohd Hafiz Hashim.
National coach Hendrawan gave credit to Soon Huat despite the defeat.
“Both Soon Huat and Kwong Beng played well today. I saw the hunger in Kwong Beng to win his first title while Soon Huat was equally eager to prove himself. Eventually, he lost on experience. Time is on his side and we hope he (Soon Huat) will continue to improve,” said Hendrawan.
It was also a great day for another Chan when Peng Soon bagged his first Open title with his partner Goh Liu Ying in the mixed doubles.
Yesterday, top seeds and Thailand Open champions Peng Soon-Liu Ying came back from 2-9 deficit in the rubber game to beat scratched pair Tan Boon Heong-Chin Ee Hui 7-21, 21-15, 21-19 in a 42-minute final.
Said Peng Soon: “Liu Ying and I was staring at defeat in the decider but we did not want to let slip the chance to win our first local title. We fought back and did not buckle under pressure although it was so close.”
It was also a first for Mak Hee Chun-Tan Wee Kiong and Goh Liu Ying-Lim Yin Loo when they emerged as the men and women doubles champions.
There were also excitement in the Division Two competition when Nelson Heg Wei Kiat-Teo Ee Yi upset world junior champions Ow Yao Han-Yew Hong Kheng for a superb 21-12, 18-21, 24-22 win.
It was Nelson-Ee Yi’s first title in Division Two.
At the world juniors in Mexico in April, Yao Han-Hong Kheng had beat Nelson-Ee Yi in the final but yesterday, the outcome was reversed.
Results All Finals
Division One
Men’s singles: Chan Kwong Beng bt Goh Soon Huat 21-16, 15-21, 21-18.
Men’s doubles: Mak Hee Chun-Tan Wee Kiong bt Goh Wei Shem-Teo Kok Siang 21-18,20-22, 21-11.
Women’s singles: Lydia Cheah bt Sonia Cheah 17-21, 21-19, 21-16.
Women’s doubles: Goh Liu Ying-Lim Yin Loo bt Vivian Hoo Kah Mun-Woon Khe Wei 21-18, 21-15.
Mixed doubles: Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying bt Tan Boon Heong-Chin Eei Hui 7-21, 21-15, 21-19.
Division Two
Boys’ singles: Loh Wei Sheng bt Tan Aik Quan 21-16, 21-14.
Boys’doubles: Nelson Heg Wei Kiat-Teo Ee Yi bt Ow Yao Han-Yew Hong Kheng 21-12, 18-21, 24-22
Girls’ singles: Ng Sin Er bt Nurul Hedayu Zainudin 21-9, 21-15.
Girls doubles: Chow Mei Kuan-Lee Meng Yean w.o Lai Pei Jing-Shevon Lai Jemie.
Mixed doubles: Nelson Heg Wei Kiat-Shevon Lai Jemie bt Ow Yao Han-Lai Pei Jing 25-26, 24-22, 6-5 rtd.
Posted by Lucas Liau
on 10:26 AM.
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