Defending Champions Off to a Good Start

KUALA LUMPUR (18 DECEMBER 2017): Petaling Jaya Badminton Club (BC) got their SS Purple League title defence campaign off on the right note after securing a hard-fought 11-8 victory over Serdang BC during the SS Purple League 2017/18 curtain raiser earlier today at the Sports Arena Sentosa, Old Klang Road.

Last season’s champions, led by captain Goh Giap Chin, were quicker coming out of the blocks as they took an early 3-1 lead after Goh defeated Serdang’s Yu Chen 11-10, 4-11, 11-9, 11-1 in the first men’s singles match.

However, Lee Ying Ying performed tremendously to help Serdang regain the lead. Lee, who had her breakout year in the last SSPL campaign with Bangsar Hawks, trounced her Petaling Jaya opponent, Lee Zii Yii 3-0 (11-5, 11-6, 11-6) in the women’s singles match.

It did not take long for Petaling Jaya to go in front as their men’s doubles pair of Low Juan Shen and Chooi Kah Ming defeated Serdang’s Pei Tianyi and Tan Jinn Hwa 3-1 ( 6-11, 11-6, 11-10, 11-7) in the third match.

But Serdang proved to be a tricky customer for the defending champions as they managed to grind out a result in the mixed doubles match to tie it all up at eight a piece. The Chinese Taipei pair of Chen Hsiao Huan and Lu Ching Yao edged Petaling Jaya’s K. Yogendran and Prajakta Sawant 3-2 (11-9, 7-11, 11-10, 10-11, 1-0) in a tight affair.

With the overall score tied at 8-8 after four matches, it was up to the last men’s singles match to determine the final outcome of the match. And in that match, it was Hong Kong international, Lee Cheuk Yiu of Petaling Jaya who managed to beat national shuttler, Lee Zii Jia of Serdang 3-0 (11-6, 11-2, 11-10) and steer his team to victory.

“Today’s performance wasn’t one of my best. I guess pre-match jitters kicked in. But I grew stronger as the game went on and luck was also on my side as I went on to win the match,” said Petaling Jaya’s Goh Giap Chin.

“I haven’t set any target for myself. All I can do is play my best and give my all for the team. Despite being without some of the key players from last season, I still do hope that our players can do their best as this is a team event,” added Goh.

“We will be making some changes to our line-up so that it will hopefully strengthen us for the following matches,” said Petaling Jaya’s team manager, Manoj Kumar.

SSPL 2017/18 Phase 1 Results (18/12/2017)
(4pm) Petaling Jaya BC vs Serdang BC 11-8
MS2: Goh Giap Chin bt Yu Chen 3-1 (11-10, 4-11, 11-9, 11-1)
WS: Lee Zii Yii lost to Lee Ying Ying 0-3 (5-11, 6-11, 6-11)
MD: Chooi Kah Ming-Low Juan Shen bt Pei Tianyi-Tan Jinn Hwa 3-1 (6-11, 11-6, 11-10, 11-7)
XD: K. Yogendran-Prajakta Sawant lost to Chen Hsiao Huan-Lu Ching Yao 2-3 (9-11, 11-7, 10-11, 11-10, 0-1)
MS1: Lee Cheuk Yiu bt Lee Zii Jia 3-0 (11-6, 11-2, 11-10)