KUALA LUMPUR (6 January 2018): Puchong United Badminton Club (BC) showed championship quality after ending their SS Purple League 2017/18 Phase 1 undefeated. This time, it was Ampang Jaya BC who fell prey to last season’s runners-up, losing their match 7-13 at the Sports Arena Sentosa, Old Klang Road today. 
Liew Daren gave his team a dream start as the Puchong United BC star defeated Ampang Jaya BC’s Yan Runze 3-2 (8-11, 11-4, 8-11, 11-10, 3-1) in the first men’s singles match.
It was level-pegging after the second match as Ampang Jaya BC’s Goh Jin Wei managed to beat Puchong United BC’s Deng Xuan 3-2 (11-7, 11-7, 7-11, 4-11, 4-3) in the women’s singles match.
Puchong United BC regained the upper hand thanks to their men’s doubles pair – Lim Khim Wah and Teo Ee Yi’s 3-0 (11-7, 11-4, 11-5) trashing over Ampang Jaya BC’s Lukhi Apri Nugroho and Muhd Syawal Ismail.
A 2-2 (8-11, 11-6, 11-5, 4-6) draw in the mixed doubles match between Ampang Jaya BC’s Chan Peng Soon and Ririn Amelia and Puchong United BC’s Lai Pei Jing and Tan Kian Meng kept Puchong United BC firmly in the driver’s seat going into the last match of the tie.
Wei Nan’s decisive 3-0 (11-9, 11-5, 11-5) win over Ampang Jaya BC’s Zulfadli Zulkiffli in the second men’s singles match preserved Puchong United BC’s 100% winning record in the SSPL 2017/18 Phase 1 stage.
“It was an important win because Ampang Jaya BC are a very strong side and today their fans came in full force to support their team so it is very satisfying that we defeat them,” said Puchong United BC’s team manager, Irina Inozemtseva.
“We have been unsuccessful in the past but it’s looking really positive this season. It was good to finish Stage 1 undefeated but the real success would be to win the title this season. We will reassess our players again to get the strongest line-up for the coming stages,” added Irina.
Meanwhile, Petaling Jaya BC picked the right time to end their two-game losing streak as they defeated Kepong BC 12-11 during the 4pm fixture.
Petaling Jaya BC won the first men’s singles match as Goh Giap Chin edged Kepong BC’s Muhd Nuraidil Ahda 3-2 (10-11, 11-4, 11-7, 9-11, 11-6). But Kepong BC quickly put a foothold on the game and took the lead thanks to Ho Yen Mei’s dominating performance in the women’s singles match, beating Petaling Jaya BC’s Lee Zii Yii 3-1 (11-7, 11-9, 10-11, 11-6).
Kepong BC went further ahead courtesy of their men’s doubles pair’s come-from-behind victory. Nur Mohd Azriyn Ayub and Tan Chee Tean beat Petaling Jaya BC’s Jagdish Singh and Low Juan Shen 3-2 (11-6, 9-11, 10-11, 11-10, 11-6) in the third match of the tie.
But Goh Yea Ching and K. Yogendran offered Petaling Jaya BC a lifeline by recording a stunning 3-1 (9-11, 11-9, 11-10, 11-8) win over Kepong BC’s pair of Cheah Yee See and Goh Soon Huat in the mixed doubles match.
Hong Kong international, Lee Cheuk Yiu then wrapped up the win for Petaling Jaya BC as he edged Kepong BC’s Lim Chi Wing 3-2 (5-11, 11-6, 9-11, 11-9, 11-8) in a winner-takes-all second men’s singles match.
“It feels good to win the last game as we initially marked this game as 50-50. We should have won it earlier as Lee Cheuk Yiu is suited for the fast-paced matches but we did not see that today,” said Petaling Jaya BC’s team manager, Yeoh Kay Lun.
“We actually have a good squad, just that we made too many mistakes in our last few games. We train everyday yet they make common mistakes which came back to haunt us. I hope they can change their mentality and attitude heading into the Phase 2,” added Yeoh.
Both Kepong BC and Petaling Jaya BC have also qualified for the SSPL 2017/18 Finals as results from yesterday’s matches went their way.
SSPL 2017/18 Phase 1 Results (6/1/2018)
(8pm) Ampang Jaya BC lost to Puchong United BC 7-13
MS2: Yan Runze lost to Liew Daren 2-3 (11-8, 4-11, 11-8, 10-11, 1-3)
WS: Goh Jin Wei bt Deng Xuan 3-2 (11-7, 11-7, 7-11, 4-11, 4-3)
MD: Lukhi Apri Nugroho-Muhd Syawal Mohd Ismail lost to Lim Khim Wah-Teo Ee Yi 0-3 (7-11, 4-11, 5-11)
XD: Chan Peng Soon-Ririn Amelia drew with Lai Pei Jing-Tan Kian Meng 2-2 (8-11, 11-6, 11-5, 4-6)
MS1: Zulfadli Zulkiffli lost to Wei Nan 0-3 (9-11, 5-11, 5-11)
(4pm) Petaling Jaya BC bt Kepong BC 12-11
MS2: Goh Giap Chin bt Muhd Nuraidil Adha Azman 3-2 (10-11, 11-4, 11-7, 9-11, 11-6)
WS: Lee Zii Yii lost to Ho Yen Mei 1-3 (7-11, 9-11, 11-10, 6-11)
MD: Jagdish Singh Dhanoa-Low Juan Shen lost to Nur Mohd Azriyn Ayub-Tan Chee Tean 2-3 (6-11, 11-9, 11-10, 10-11, 6-11)
XD: Goh Yea Ching-K. Yogendran bt Cheah Yee See-Goh Soon Huat 3-1 (9-11, 11-9, 11-10, 11-8)
MS1: Lee Cheuk Yiu bt Lim Chi Wing 3-2 (5-11, 11-6, 9-11, 11-9, 11-8)
