Ampang Jaya whip Bangsar for second straight victory

PETALING JAYA: Ampang Jaya Badminton Club picked up their second straight win in the SS Purple League after whipping Bangsar Hawks BC 12-6.

Ampang Jaya, who edged Cheras BC 10-8 on Tuesday , started off well with national shuttler Tan Jia Wei (pic) beating Muhd Syafiq Sanusi 7-11, 11-8, 11-4, 11-1 in the first men’s singles at the Sports Arena Sentosa, Jalan Kelang Lama, yesterday.

Bangsar, however, nicked the lead after Yap Yee claimed an impressive 11-8, 11-10, 11-9 win over Chinese import Xu Wei in the women’s singles.

But Ampang Jaya stepped up with Lukhi Apri Nugruho-Mohd Syawal Ismail (men’s doubles), Chan Peng Soon-Lee Shun Mei (mixed doubles) and Nguyen Tien Minh (second men’s singles) all winning their matches.

“I am happy with the two wins so early in the league. It’s sweet beating Bangsar because we lost to them last year,” said Ampang Jaya team manager Ho Khek Mong.

The win pushed Ampang Jaya to the top of the eight-team league, overtaking overnight leaders Puchong United BC.

Puchong United, who finished runners-up last season, had set the early pace in the league after thrashing Bangsar 15-2 on Tuesday.

Today, Puchong United will seek revenge when they take on defend- ing champions Petaling Jaya BC.

The top six teams in the round-robin first phase will proceed to the next phase. The total points from the first and second phases will determine the final standings and seedings of the six teams for the Grand Finals (phase three) at the Arena of Stars, Genting Highlands, from Feb 8-11.