Taiwanese pair upset fancied Malaysians to help Kepong win
PETALING JAYA: Taiwan’s Lu Chingyao proved to be an effective signing for Kepong Badminton Club in the SS Purple League (SSPL).
Yesterday, Ching-yao and partner Yang Po-han, the Taiwan’s fourth-best ranked men’s doubles pair at world No. 26, whipped Malaysian rising stars Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik 11-6, 11-10, 11-5 to steer their club to a 10-8 victory over Petaling BC.
Kepong BC, the reigning runners-up, already had Po-han in their roster in the last two seasons and the signing of Ching-yao from Serdang BC could prove to be the key to their bid for a maiden SSPL crown this time.
The win over world No. 22 AaronWooi Yik kept Ching Yao-Po-han perfect start as they had also beaten Low Juan Shen-Nugroho Lukhi Apri in Kepong BC’s 9-11 defeat to Ampang Jaya BC on Monday.
Kepong BC also had two-time national champion Lim Chi Wing to thank for
after he notched a convincing 11-4, 11-6, 11-6 win over former national teammate Chong Yee Han in the opening men’s singles tie.
Women’s singles Yulia Yosephine Susanto and mixed doubles Terry HeeLai Pei Jing were victorious for Petaling BC to narrow the gap to 6-8 heading into the second men’s singles – the last match of the day pitting Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin and Soong Joo Ven.
Joo Ven fended off Iskandar’s spirited challenge to force a draw after the match ended 11-8, 6-11, 9-11, 4-3 when the maximum 30-minute duration ran out.