TCBC breathe new life into their SSPL 2018/19 campaign

CYBERJAYA (11 JANUARY 2019): Tebrau City Badminton Club (TCBC) exacted revenge on Kepong Badminton Club (Kepong BC) when they stunned last season’s finalist, 12-6 to put their SS Purple League 2018/19 season back on track on Day 1 of Stage 2 at Gem In Mall, Cyberjaya tonight.Losing 7-13 to the same team in Stage 1, debutants, TCBC have injected new life into their campaign which now sees them sitting pretty in fifth place, with the teams that finished in 3rd to sixth place after the end of the Stage 2 qualifying for the final rounds to be held on 24-27 Jan 2019 at the Arena of Stars, Resorts World Genting.

With this defeat, Kepong BC, who lost 8-10 to Puchong United Badmnton Club (PUBC) in last season’s finale, are still in fourth, within sight of the qualifying places but will need to buck up for their final tie in Group B, against Bukit Mertajam All Stars Badminton Club (BMASBC) on Sunday.

TCBC meanwhile, will face BMASBC tomorrow, with another win against the team who finished seventh at the culmination of Stage 1, will guarantee a passage through the final rounds alongside PUBC and Ampang Jaya Badminton Club (AJBC) who have booked their places earlier.

“It was an unexpected victory as we focused on a damage limitation exercise against Kepong BC whom we lost 7-13 previously.

“This win is a bonus for us, we are relieved and we can focus on our next match tomorrow. Our chances have increased but the gap is still there and we have to be wary of our opponents,” added assistant manager, Lim Kenn.

TCBC got off to the perfect start in the men’s singles when Satheishtharan Ramachandran scored his second win in the SSPL 2018/19, downing China’s, Yan Runze, 3-1 (11-5, 11-10, 7-11, 11-4).

Women’s singles, Qin Jin Jing then got Kepong BC’s campaign back on track with a 3-0 (11-6, 11-2, 11-4) success against Indonesia’s, Rusydina Antardayu for last year’s finalist to lead 4-3.

Men’s doubles, Lee Jian Yi-Lim Zhen Ting then overturned Kepong BC’s lead with a 3-0 (11-5, 11-9, 11-9) win over Muhd Nuraidil Adha Azman-Tee Kai Wun for the tie to swing TCBC’s way, 6-4.

TCBC then made sure of the win when Malaysian-Taiwanese mixed doubles pair, Anna Cheong Ching Yik-Lu Ching Yao conceded a walkover to local pair, Soong Fie Cho-Tan Hwa Jin for an unassailable 9-4 victory.

Yeoh Seng Zoe then put the gloss on an overall impressive display for TCBC when he overcame a strong challenge from two time national champion, Lim Chi Wing to secure a 3-2 (11-9, 11-7, 8-11, 6-11, 9-8) victory for a 12-6 scoreline.

Meanwhile, in an earlier match, Serdang Badminton Club (Serdang BC) reignited their hopes for a place in the final rounds with a thumping 12-4 win over Bandar Maharani Badminton Club (BMBC).
With this win, Serdang BC have a stranglehold on sixth place, with the teams that finished in 3rd to sixth place after the end of the Stage 2 qualifying for the final rounds to be held on 24-27 Jan 2019 at the Arena of Stars, Resorts World Genting.

Muhd Shaqeem Eiman Shahyar (men’s singles), Alessandra Mainaky Lyanny (women’s singles), Liu Lin-Yap Qar Siong (mixed doubles) and Teh Ziyi (men’s singles) contributed winning points towards Serdang BC’s haul which enabled them to maintain sixth spot previously from Stage 1.

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 Stage 2 Results Today

Group A
(4.00pm)- Bandar Maharani BC 4-12 Serdang BC
MS2 Jhy Dar OOI lost Muhd Shaqeem EIMAN SHAHYAR 1-3 (7-11 7-11 11-4 10-11)
WS Rui Chen YAP lost Lyanny ALESSANDRA MAINAKY 0-3 (8-11 4-11 4-11)
MD Mohd Razlan Shah MOHD RIDZUAN SHAH- Roy King YAP won Kai Qing CHOO- Wei Khoon ONG 3-0 (11-8 11-10 11-4)
XD Zhi Qing LEE- Tien Ci WONG lost Lin LIU- Qar Siong YAP (0-3) 8-11 7-11 9-11
MS1 Chong King LIM lost Ziyi TEH 0-3 (WALKOVER)

Group B
(8.00pm)- Kepong BC 6-12 Tebrau City BC
MS2 Runze YAN lost Satheishtharan RAMACHANDRAN 1-3 (5-11 10-11 11-7 4-11)
WS Jin Jing QIN won Rusydina ANTARDAYU 3-0 (11-6 11-2 11-4)
MD Muhd Nuraidil Adha AZMAN- Kai Wun TEE lost Jian Yi LEE- Zhen Ting LIM 0-3 (5-11 9-11 9-11)
XD Ching Yik, Anna CHEONG- Ching Yao LU lost Fie Cho SOONG- Jinn Hwa TAN 0-3 (WALKOVER)
MS1 Chi Wing LIM lost Seng Zoe YEOH 2-3 (9-11 7-11 11-8 11-6 8-9)

SSPL 2018/19 Stage 2 Fixtures

12 January 2019 (Saturday)
4:00 PM Bukit Mertajam All Stars BC vs Tebrau City BC (Group B)
8:00 PM Petaling BC vs Bandar Maharani BC (Group A)

13 January 2019 (Sunday)
4:00 PM Kepong BC vs Bukit Mertajam All Stars BC (Group B)
8:00 PM Petaling BC vs Serdang BC (Group A)

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/