Kis-Soniia deliver
But their efforts are in vain as team fall to Indonesia
SHUTTLERS Soniia Cheah and S. Kisona made remarkable comebacks to deliver wins for Malaysia but it all ended in vain.
Yesterday, Malaysia went down fighting 2-3 to Indonesia in the opening Group D tie at Impact Arena and lost the chance to confirm a ticket for the quarter-finals.
They will play defending champions China today and on paper, it is super tough for Malaysia to win and advance.
Soniia started the ball rolling with a 21-10, 17-21, 21-14 win over Fitriani Fitriani to give Malaysia a perfect start.
“I’m delighted to give the team a good start, they needed it. I hope they will go all the way,” she said.
But her wish did not materialise as Lee Meng Yean-Goh Yea Ching, Goh Jin Wei and Chow Mei KuanVivian Hoo went down fighting in the next three matches.
Indonesia celebrated after taking the 3-1 lead but Kisona, who was fielded instead of Lee Ying Ying in the third singles, gave Malaysia some consolation when she played superbly to beat Ruselli Hartawan 21-23, 23-21, 21-13.
Team captain Vivian commended the team's fighting spirit despite the defeat. Last year, Malaysia beat Indonesia 3-0 in the semi-finals at the Kuala Lumpur SEA Games.
“Then, Indonesia did not have their best doubles players. We had two good scratch pairs but both lost,” said Vivian, who won the Commonwealth Games gold medal with Mei Kuan last month.
“Mei Kuan and I had a good chance to save the tie but we are to be blamed for letting go a good lead in the opening game.
“We lost focus. We fought back and tried to turn the match in the decider but the Indonesians took a big lead and we could not catch up.”
Vivian did not want to give up hope although Malaysia will face the giants China today.
“Anything can happen and we'll go into the match against China with this mindset. We are disap- pointed with the defeat but we'll put up a better show tomorrow," she said.
National singles head coach Datuk Tey Seu Bock was proud of his singles players.
“Today, Soniia and Kisona rose to the occasion but I must commend Kisona for her fighting spirit,” said Seu Bock.
“We had lost the tie but she did not give up and fought hard to win the last point. This is the fighting spirit that I would like to see in the team," he added.