Good End to the Year for Kepong BC

KUALA LUMPUR (31 December, 2016): Kepong BC ended the year by producing a stellar team performance to inflict a first defeat on BU Dragons BC (10-7) during their SS Purple League (SSPL) 2016/17 match earlier today at Gem in Mall, Cyberjaya.

Both teams could not be separated at the end of the first men’s singles match as Kepong’s Lim Chi Wing and BU Dragons’ Goh Soon Huat played to a 2-2 draw.

Kepong soon took control of the tie after their Thai import, Ongbamrungphan Busanan – ranked 13 in the world – produced a standout performance to gift her side a three point lead. The 20-year old Busanan easily defeated BU Dragons’ Yip Pui Yin 3-0 in the women’s singles match.

Rasmussen Anders and Tan Chee Tean brought Kepong to the brink of a famous victory as they too brushed aside BU Dragons’ Mak Hee Chun and Tam Chun Hei in straight sets.

However they could not put the tie to rest as BU Dragons’ mixed doubles pair of Lai Pei Jing and Tan Kian Meng was just too formidable for Kepong’s Chayanit Chaladchalam and Mohd Razif Ab Latif. The national team pair won the match in straight sets as well.

Needing just one point to secure the win, Kepong’s Thai import, Thongnuam Pannawit duly delivered as he took two sets off BU Dragons’ Wei Nan in the final match of the tie. The match ended in a 2-2 draw.

“It was a shocking result as we managed to beat the previously unbeaten BU Dragons. This is the perfect send off for the year 2016. I must praise my players for putting up such a brilliant performance,” said Kepong’s head coach, Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif.

“We do not want to set unrealistic targets just because of this result as we aim to qualify to Stage 2 as one of the best six teams and I hope that our latest additions will spur us to that target,” added Zakry.

Meanwhile, Puchong United BC continued their rampant form by dismantling a young Bangsar Hawks BC side 13-5 during their SS Purple League (SSPL) 2016/17 match earlier today at Gem in Mall, Cyberjaya.

Bangsar Hawks BC was in a confident mood after recording their first victory of the SSPL 2016/17 yesterday. However, they could not keep up their giant-killing act against a strong Puchong United side.

National shuttler, Chong Wei Feng made sure Puchong United got off to a winning start as he made light weight of Bangsar Hawks’ Chinese Taipei import, Wan Chia Hsin. Wei Feng won the matchup comfortably with a 3-1 score line.

Bangsar Hawks got back into the game thanks to their ever reliable women’s singles Lee Ying Ying. Lee continued her fine run of form by beating Puchong United’s Japanese international, Sayaka Takahashi 3-1 to level the overall score at four all. The 19-year old has now started and won all her SSPL 2016/17 matches so far.

However it was Puchong United who regained the lead in the men’s doubles match. Their Chinese Taipei pair of Lee Jhe Huei and Lee Yang proved too strong for their Bangsar Hawks’ opponents, Irfan Fadhilah and Muhammad Amzzar as they won the tie 3-0.

Goh Liu Ying, who was afforded some time off from Puchong United’s last match, returned to action fully reenergised as she alongside her partner of the day, Lim Khim Wah not only extended their team’s lead but also secured Puchong United’s fifth win in a row. The two beat Bangsar Hawks’ pair of Joyce Choong and Zhou Bowei 3-1 in the mixed doubles match.

“It was quite a comfortable win for us. I think because I was up against my junior (Joyce) and she showed me too much respect. That’s why she could not perform to her full potential. However our target is definitely to enter the final of the SSPL 2016/17 season so we are on the right track,” said Goh.

Puchong United ran out comfortable winners in the end as their Chinese Taipei player, Wang Tzu Wei dominated his match against Bangsar Hawks’ Chang Lip Seng, winning in straight sets.

The big win allowed Puchong United to jump from third spot to displace Petaling Jaya BC at first.

In the 4pm match, Ampang Jaya BC edged Serdang BC in a 11-9 thriller. Both teams were desperate for a win after a string of poor performances. The overall score was tied at eight all after four matches. In the crunch match – the second men’s singles – junior national player and Serdang’s captain, Lee Zii Jia could not deliver as fell to a more experienced Lee Cheuk Yiu of Ampang Jaya 1-3.

SSPL 2016/17 Results (31 December 2016)
(12pm) Bangsar Hawks BC lost to Puchong United BC 5-13
MS2: Wan Chia Hsin lost to Chong Wei Feng 1-3 (11-6, 7-11, 4-11, 4-11)
WS: Lee Ying Ying bt Sayaka Takahashi 3-1 (11-7, 11-7, 7-11, 6-4)
MD: Irfan Fadhilah-Muhammad Amzzar lost to Lee Jhe Huei-Lee Yang 0-3 (6-11, 5-11, 8-11)
XD: Joyce Choong-Zhou Bowei lost to Goh Liu Ying-Lim Khim Wah 1-3 (10-11, 6-11, 11-7, 10-11)
MS1: Chang Lip Seng lost to Wang Tzu Wei 0-3 (5-11, 8-11, 8-11)

(4pm) Serdang BC lost to Ampang Jaya BC 9-11
MS2: Xu Yiming bt Cheam June Wei 3-1 (11-10, 8-11, 11-4, 5-4)
WS: Shen Yabing lost to Ho Yen Mei 0-3 (10-11, 10-11, 10-11)
MD: Ong Wei Khoon-Ou Xuanyi drew with Kim Astrup-Phutthaporn 2-2 (11-8, 10-11, 2-11, 11-10)
XD: Lee Chun Hei-Lim Jee Lynn bt Tan Wei Han-Terry Hee Yong Kai 3-2 (11-9, 2-11, 11-7, 5-11, 9-8)
MS1: Lee Zii Jia lost to Lee Cheuk Yiu 1-3 (6-11, 9-11, 11-9, 9-11)

(8pm) BU Dragons BC lost to Kepong BC 7-10
MS2: Goh Soon Huat drew with Lim Chi Wing 2-2 (9-11, 11-10, 9-11, 3-2)
WS: Yip Pui Yin lost to Ongbamrungphan Busanan 0-3 (4-11, 4-11, 3-11)
MD: Mak Hee Chun-Tam Chun Hei lost to Rasmussen Anders-Tan Chee Tean 0-3 (8-11, 3-11, 10-11)
XD: Lai Pei Jing-Tan Kian Meng bt Chayanit Chaladchalam-Mohd Razif Ab Latif 3-0 (11-5, 11-6, 11-6)
MS1: Wei Nan drew with Thongnuam Pannawit 2-2 (11-5, 10-11, 7-11, 3-2)