First singles sweep in 46 years
Lee Zii Jia and S. Kisona won the men’s and women’s singles titles respectively at the 30th SEA Games yesterday, reviving memories of Malaysia’s dominance of the singles in badminton 46 years ago.
MANILA: Lee Zii Jia and S. Kisona won the men’s and women’s singles titles respectively at the 30th SEA Games yesterday, reviving memories of Malaysia’s dominance of the singles in badminton 46 years ago.
The last time Malaysia swept both titles at the regional Games was in 1973, when both of them were not born yet. Then, Datuk Punch Gunalan and Sylvia Ng Meow Eng triumphed in the men’s and women’s events respectively in Singapore.
In Monday’s action, the unseeded Kisona showed the fighter in her when she came back from one game down to beat Indonesia’s Ruselli Hartawan in the final at the Muntinlupa Sports Complex here.
After dropping the first set at 20-22, Kisona, ranked 104th in the world, tightened her play to win the next two games 21-14, 21-13.
Ruselli, who is ranked 37th in the world, simply had no answer to Kisona’s determined and steady play.
“I want to thank the management and coaches for placing their trust in me to play in the singles.
“They did not set a target for me and just wanted me to give it my best shot. I have proven myself,” said Kisona, 21, who got to play in the individual event because top singles player Goh Jin Wei could not make it to the Games.
Top national men’s singles player Zii Jia continued with
Malaysia’s fine display when he beat Singapore’s Loh Kean Yew in the men’s final.
Zii Jia, who is world no 14, dictated play from the start to take the first game 21-18.
In the second game, he capitalised on his opponent’s mistakes to romp home a 21-18 winner.
It was a golden second appearance at the Games for Zii Jia, who was knocked out in the second round in Kuala Lumpur two years ago.
“Apart from the Olympic and Asian Games, the SEA Games is among the major competitions for badminton.
“After the victory, I feel like going on leave to release all the pressure,” he said.
Meanwhile national doubles pair Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik completed a memorable day on the courts by delivering the gold medal in the men’s doubles final.
What was even more sweeter was that their 18-21, 21-15 and 21-16 win over Thai pair Bodin
Isara-Maneepong Jongjit was their first ever top finish in all international tournaments.
It also ended a 16-year drought as the last time a Malaysian men’s doubles pair won a SEA Games gold was through Choong Tan Fook-Lee Wan Wah at the 2003 Vietnam edition.
“Of course, we are elated. This is our first ever international win, something we have been waiting for a long time. We are already at the end of the year and its a good sign as we prepare for the BWF World Tour Finals in Guangzhou right after this,” said Aaron after the match.
As for Wooi Yik, their first ever international career gold means a lot, and noted that they had to really fight hard for it in the final.
“We lost the first set due to tactical reasons. In the second, we made some changes and play a lot of rallies as they were more senior and experienced than us.
“Our gamble paid off and we managed to control the game until the end,” he said.
In the match played at the Muntinlupa sports complex, the 12th ranked pair in the world lost the first set 18-21.
They bounced back to dominate the second, before taking the next two sets and beat the world 43rd ranked Thai pair.
Aaron-Wooi Yik’s win also saw them contributing Malaysia’s third gold on the last day of the badminton competition. Bernama