Penang’s Seng Zoe prevents BAM clean sweep
PENANG: Penang’s promising shuttler Yeoh Seng Zoe could not have asked for a more fitting comeback as he bade farewell to his National Under-21 singles campaign in style at the PBA hall in Bukit Dumbar.
The 21 year-old former national trainee, who was forced to part ways with the national setup after sustaining a serious knee inury in 2015, emerged as the Under-21 men’s singles champion yesterday.
Seng Zoe, who donned Penang colours in the five-day championship, firmly prevented a Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) clean sweep of the five titles at stake when he powered past BAM’s Ng Tze Yong 21-16, 21-16 in the final.
“The win is indeed a good start to my return to competitive badminton, more so when it is my target to win as many titles as I can at national and international levels,” said Seng Zoe, who is now playing for Sports Affair Club in Kuala Lumpur.
“However, it was my confidence that proved to be the vital ingredient in my campaign.
“I knew that I was up against a very junior rival.
“Tze Yong just turned 18. I knew I was better off not only in experience but I was confident of living up to my top seeding.”
The former SMK (C) Heng Ee student plans to spend an extra day with his family here in Penang before heading back to KL to continue his training programme with his club to prepare for other tournaments ahead.
Eoon Qi Xuan won the women’s singles title after Negri Sembilan’s Ng Xi Xuan retired due to a twisted knee problem while trailing 10-18 in the second game.
The partnership of Pearly Tan Koong Le and Toh Ee Wai were crowned women’s doubles champions following a 21-12, 21-17 win over the TerengganuPerak partnership of Hazair Noor Hazwani and Desiree Siow Hao Shan.
Pearly then made it a grand double finish when she returned to the court for her second final showdown.
Teaming up with Chang Yee Jun in the mixed doubles, they overcame their BAM rivals Yap Roy King-Gan Jinn Err 21-17, 10-21, 21-11.
BAM’s other title came in the men’s doubles with Wyman Goh Wai Yap-Kok Jing Hong labouring to a 16-21, 21-11, 21-19 win over Kuala Lumpur’s Cheah Chee Feng- Zulman Helmie Zulhaidee.