CYBERJAYA (6 January 2019): Defending champions, Puchong United Badminton Club (PUBC) booked their place in the final rounds of the SSPL 2018/19 after a nail-biting affair, drawing 10-10 with Petaling Badminton Club (Petaling BC) to qualify in second place on the final day of Stage 1 SSPL 2018/19 at the Gem In Mall, Cyberjaya tonight.PUBC who defeated Kepong BC 10-8 in last year’s final at the Arena of Stars, Resorts World Genting, will be joined by Ampang Jaya Badminton Club (AJBC) for the two automatic qualifying spots after AJBC topped the standings at the end of Stage 1.

Tan Boon Heong-Tan Kian Meng played a barnstorming game to defeat Petaling BC’s, Man Wei Chong- Shia Chun Kang 3-0 (11-9 11-4 11-7) just now. Puchong United BC qualified to the final rounds of the SSPL by virtue of finishing second.

“We are the defending champions and we received a good fight from all the other teams. I am happy for my team for showing consistency in their game from Day 1,” said PUBC manager, Irina Inozemtseva.

“Qualifying automatically for the final rounds means we are already through to the semi-finals. It’s not easy as all the teams know each other’s games and also we have to take into consideration, the weather in Genting Highlands,” added Irina.

The absence of stalwart, Goh Giap Chin who was down with illness was missed by PUBC as Petaling BC drew first blood in the opening men’s singles.

In his place, Alfred Lau Yu Leong, who was making his debut in the SSPL 2018/19, couldn’t stand a chance as he was outclassed by Chong Yee Han, 3-1 (7-11, 11-1, 11-5, 11-2).

It was game on in the women’s singles as national player, Ho Yen Mei levelled the tie 4-4 as she overcame a spirited challenge by Indonesia’s rising junior, Gabriella Meilani Moningka, 3-1 (11-9, 11-10, 7-11, 11-9).

Former national player, Tan Boon Heong, completed Stage 1 undefeated with his third different pair, Tan Kian Meng to win his fifth consecutive match, this time against Petaling BC’s, Man Wei Chong-Shia Chun Kang, 3-0 (11-9, 11-4, 11-7) for PUBC to forge ahead 7-4.

Singaporean-Malaysian mixed doubles pair, Terry Hee Yong Kai-Lai Pei Jing then played the match of their lives to win 3-2 (11-8, 8-11, 8-11, 11-10, 8-7) over Hong Kong-Malaysian pair, Tang Chun Man-Goh Liu Ying to put Petaling BC two points within PUBC’s 9-7 lead.

It was all to play for in the deciding men’s singles as independent shuttler, Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin, fought back to level the tie 10-10 after a smashing win against Lee Cheuk Yiu from Hong Kong (11-10, 6-11, 11-9, 10-7).

However it was not enough for Petaling BC to go through and had to wait the draw for Stage 2 which was held shortly after.

For finishing third, Petaling BC, was drawn in Group A alongside Bandar Maharani Badminton Club (BMBC), Serdang Badminton Club (Serdang BC) while Kepong BC who finished fourth ended up alongside Bukit Mertajam All Stars Badminton Club (BMASBC) and Tebrau City Badminton Club (TCBC).

The SS Purple League 2019 features local and international players including Olympic medallists, world champions, former big names and rising stars on the international stage.

Players from the eight teams will compete in three stages in a single round robin format and play-off format for the coveted SS Purple League trophy. Total prize money for this season is RM1,500,000.
The SS Purple League 2019 will run from December 2018 to January 2019 beginning with Stage 1 on 21-24 Dec, 26-30 Dec and 2-6 Jan 2019 to be held at Gem in Mall, Cyberjaya. Stage 2 will be played on 11-13 Jan 2019, also at Gem in Mall, Cyberjaya. The final round will be held on 24-27 Jan 2019 at the Arena of Stars, Resorts World Genting.

Tickets can be purchased at the venue and through the official website https://www.purpleleague.com/ at RM15 for adults and RM9 for children below 12 years. Season passes for matches in KL only are priced at RM199.

SSPL FULL RESULTS TODAY
(4pm) Kepong BC 14-8 Bandar Maharani BC
MS2 YAN Runze lost LIM Chong King 2-3 (7-11 11-8 8-11 11-4 3-6)
WS QIN Jin Jing won YAP Yee 3-1 (11-7 10-11 11-4 11-9)
MD LU Ching Yao- TEE Kai Wun won OOI Jhy Dar- YAP Roy King 3-0 (11-6 11-5 11-6)
XD CHEONG Ching Yik, Anna- Ayub NUR MOHD AZRIYN won WONG Tien Ci- YAP Rui Chen 3-2 (9-11 11-6 6-11 11-10 11-7)
MS1 LIM Chi Wing won NG Jun Yan 3-2 (8-11 11-9 11-7 4-11 11-3)

(8pm) Puchong United BC 10-10 Petaling BC
MS2 LAU Yu Leong, Alfred lost CHONG Yee Han 1-3 (11-7 1-11 5-11 2-11)
WS HO Yen Mei won Moningka GABRIELA MEILANI 3-1 (11-9 11-10 7-11 11-9)
MD TAN Boon Heong- TAN Kian Meng won MAN Wei Chong- SHIA Chun Kang 3-0 (11-9 11-4 11-7)
XD GOH Liu Ying- TANG Chun Man lost HEE Yong Kai, Terry- LAI Pei Jing 2-3 (8-11 11-8 11-8 10-11 7-8)
MS1 LEE Cheuk Yiu lost Zainuddin ISKANDAR ZULKARNAIN 1-3 (10-11 11-6 9-11 7-10)

Final SSPL Standings

TEAM P GW PW
1 Ampang Jaya BC 7 81 1,213
2 Puchong United BC 7 81 1,268
3 Petaling BC 7 80 1,267
4 Kepong BC 7 79 1,245
5 Tebrau City BC 7 64 1,168
6 Serdang BC 7 54 1,099
7 BM All Stars BC 7 51 1,045
8 Bandar Maharani BC 7 47 1,084

p- played, gw- games won, pw- points won

Draw for Stage 2 SSPL

Group A

Petaling BC
Bandar Maharani BC
Serdang BC

Group B

Kepong BC
Bukit Mertajam All Stars BC
Tebrau City BC

About Malaysia Purple League

Founded in 2013, Malaysia Purple League is a competition platform in support of the Malaysian badminton effort by helping to develop and polish the skills of Malaysian badminton players to raise the level of competitive badminton in Malaysia. The league is an initiative that provides players of all levels, both professionals and amateurs, with an opportunity to gain invaluable competition experience, and concurrently strives to engage retired national greats to guide and inspire a new generation of champions. For more information, visit Malaysia Purple League website at http://www.purpleleague.com/