Gunawan’s players ready to grab Div 1 title

KUALA LUMPUR (18 SEPTEMBER): THEIR heart-breaking loss to Bukit Cheras Badminton Club (BCBC) on the final day of the Purple League Junior (PLJ) 2018 still lingers in the minds of Ampang Jaya BC (AJBC) after they came so close to clinching the PLJ Division 1 title, but it was not to be.Lady Luck had deserted them when BCBC pushed them to second place of the PLJ using the points system which was regulated by the Purple League. BCBC, who had accumulated 1404 – 1085 points, thus pipped Ampang Jaya BC (1398 – 1105) to the title by the narrowest of margins.

This season, AJBC, who are still hurting from that narrow defeat, will be looking to make amends after that disappointment and walk away with this season’s Division 1 PLJ title, or at least be one of the main contenders.

AJBC coach Hendra Aprida Gunawan said that his players have learned from last season’s mistakes and are better prepared for this season’s tournament.

He said: “All the preparations have been made and the AJBC players are currently attending centralise training until the tournament starts sometime next week.

“We failed to score enough points last season thus losing out to BCBC but we will not let that happen again. My players know what must be done to avoid another bitter disappointment.”

Gunawan added: “We will be expecting our mixed doubles and boys’ doubles to win their respective matches as we have come up with a very good strategy.”

Understandably, BCBC will be looking to retain the title and should have little trouble against newly promoted teams like Amanjaya BC (AMBC) and Kuantan Synergy BC (KSBC), but will not have things their way when up against old nemesis such as AJBC, Kepong BC (KBC) and Bandar Maharani BC (BMBC) who are all title contenders and will all be looking to be champions of the Division 1 category.

This season the spotlight will be on BAM academy players like Rayner Beh Chun Min, Ching Kai Feng and Yap Roy King who have all shown plenty of promise and get the chance to showcase what they can do on court. Also, the fans must not forget the talented twin-sisters combination of Chew Jia Wern-Chew Jia Hui from Rawang BC (RBC) who can be the tournament’s show-stealers.

In Division 2, Ayer Itam BC (AIBC) and Tebrau City (TCBC) are tipped to battle it out for promotion after both teams missed out last season but newcomers Damansara BC are looking good to pull off an upset and run away with the title.

Division 3 proceedings were concluded last week with Bagan BC (BBC) finishing victorious to earn promotion to Division 2 for next season. BBC accounted for the likes of Cheras TPBC (CTPBC), Segamat Spiritual BC (SSBC) and Bayan Lepas BC (BLBC) to clinch the title.

The Division 1 and 2 categories will begin this coming weekend (September 21 & 22) at the Sports Arena Falim, Ipoh and will continue for its second leg on October 5 & 6 at the Challenger Sports Centre, Ampang before the season’s conclusion slated for October 19 & 20 at Sports Arena Sentosa.