SIBU, July 24 — Selangor won the men’s badminton team gold medal when they beat Penang 3-0 in the 18th Malaysia Games (Sukma) at Sibu Indoor Stadium here, today.
The win was courtesy of their three singles players, namely Soo Teck Zhi, Soon Joo Wen and R. Satheistharan.
Soo took 66 minutes to subdue Cheam June Wei, 20-22, 21-18, 21-18, while Soon had it easy against Loh Zefeng, winning 21-12, 21-11, in just 26 minutes.
Third singles Tan Jia Wei raised the hopes of the Penang fans when he beat Satheistharan 21-17 in the first set.
However, the Selangor player was not to be denied when he came storming in the next two sets to win, 21-14, 21-14.
Penang had to be statisfied with the silver. Malacca beat Kedah 3-1 to win the bronze medal.
Penang’s women made up for the men’s failure when they exacted revenge on Selangor with a 3-2 win to lift the women’s team gold medal.
Kong Yi Jin beat Crysvia Lim Peiy Zheah, 21-8, 21-13, while Goh Jin Wei beat Thinaah Muralitharan, 21-12, 21-14, to put Penang 2-0.
However, Penang’s third singles player, Lim Jing Ning could not keep up the momentum and lost to Payee Lim Peiy Yee, 18-21, 12-21.
Selangor equalised when Teoh Mei Xing/Thinaah Muralitharan beat Lee Shun Mei/Lim Ru Guat, 21-14, 21-10.
However, their second doubles, Lee Zhi Qing/Payee Lim Peiy Yee found Cheah Yee See/Lim Jee Lynn too strong and lost, 11-21, 11-21.
Selangor settled for the silver. Federal Territories beat Perak 3-2 to win the bronze medal. — Bernama
