SMK Lok Yuk dominate state level AirAsia-BAM competition
KOTA KINABALU: SM Lok Yuk clinched a unique doubles at the state level AirAsiaBAM National Junior League competition here yesterday.
In the men’s event, Lok Yuk defeated SMK Keningau 3-0 while the women’s event saw Lok Yuk defeat SMK Tamparuli 2-1.
Played at the Kota Kinabalu Sports Complex in Likas near here, Lok Yuk’s boys justified their top billings by emerging as the champions.
State under-18 champion Neville Baptist Luaran got Lok Yuk into a bright start when he defeated Mohamed Al Hafizi Suhaimi 21-15, 21-10 in 24 minutes.
Arthur John and Jonathan J. Jonioh clinched the second point with a 21-17, 21-18 win over Philip Dederoel and Mohd Fayyed Yaakob in a half-hour battle.
Ling Dai Hau delivered the all-important point when he won the second singles, beating Vielson D. Umbol 21-18, 21-13 in 25 minutes.
Third place went to SMK Bandau who beat SMK Tamparuli 2-1.
In the women’s category, second seeded Lok Yuk were stretched to the limit before winning against a determined SMK Tamparuli side.
Shania Dedee Richard of Lok Yuk needed only 22 minutes to beat Cassey Rynn Rompog 21-9, 21-11 in the first singles game.
Asfarhani Jasnel and Jessica Calvin levelled the match following their 21-14, 21-13 win over Elaine Wee and Surraya Voo of SMK Lok Yuk with a score of 21-14, 21-13 in 31 minutes.
This set up a mouth-watering clash in the second singles which pit Goh Shuen Tong for Lok Yuk against Macnella Micheal for SMK Tamparuli.
Macnella got off to a fine start by taking the first set 21-17 but Shuen Tong fought back 21-13 to send the match into the rubber game.
Shuen Tong did not look back as she went on to win 21-9 to deliver the winning point for Lok Yuk.
The third place winners were SMK Bandau with a 2-0 win over SMK Bukit Garam.
For the record, Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) patron Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor launched the Airasia-BAM National League Championship on July 15 this year, opened to shuttlers aged 18 and below.
The champions and runnersup for both categories are set to represent Sabah at the AirasiaBAM Badminton National Junior League Championship in Kuala Lumpur in December.
The winners of the national level Junior League will get automatic entries into the Malaysia Badminton Academy (ABM) in Bukit Kiara.
Sabah Badminton Association (SBA) president Janih Bangud and Sports Supervisor of the Human Development Sector Sports Unit (Sabah Education Department) Haji Pg. Johari Pg. Ahmad presented the prizes to the winners.
SBA deputy president Tamin Zainal and organising chairman Golubi Guntarek were also present.