Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia’s Goh Jin Wei and Soniia Cheah have assured their country a gold medal in badminton at the 2017 Kuala Lumpur SEA Games as they are set to take on each other in the women’s singles final on Tuesday.
The 17-year-old Goh became the youngest Malaysian to guarantee at least a silver medal in the women’s singles event by posting a narrow victory on Monday against Pornpawee Chochuwong of Thailand 21-9, 10-21, 21-18.
“It really doesn’t matter who will win the women’s singles title, the most important is the gold medal belongs to Malaysia,” said Goh.
Soniia Cheah edged out Gregoria Mariska Tunjung of Indonesia 22-20, 21-13 in the other women’s singles semis.
Ong Yew Sin/Teo Ee Yi got their chances to add another gold to Malaysia as they demolished Bodin Isara-Nipitphon Phuanghuapet of Thailand 21-12, 21-15 to set up meeting with another Thai pair, Kittinupong Kedren/Dechapol Puavaranukroh in the final.
Malaysia’s mixed doubles pair Goh Soon Huat/Shevon Lai also advanced to the final by beating Bodin Isara/SavitreeAmitrapai of Thailand 18-21, 26-24, 21-18 and will clash with Thailand’s Dechapol Puavaranukroh/Sapsiree Taerattananchai for the mixed doubles gold medal.
Dechapol Puavaranukroh/Sapsiree Taerattananchai survived a three-set contest by Chan Peng Soon/Cheah Yee See of Malaysia and had the last laugh in the pulsating semi-finals by closing out the match 21-16, 18-21, 23-21.
Women’s doubles pair who Vivian Hoo/Woon Khe Wei who were under a must win situation in order to rescue their partnership, crashed out to Jongkolphan Kititharakul-Rawinda Prajongjai of Thailand 17-21, 22-20, 21-17 on Monday.
Kititharakul/Prajongjai will take on compatriots Puttita Supajirakul/Sapsiree Taerattanachai for the women’s doubles title.
Lee Chong Wei’s wife – Wong Mew Choo was the last women’s singles gold medalist from Malaysia. She defeated Salakjit Ponsana of Thailand 11-5, 11-5 to claim the gold medal at the 2003 SEA Games that was held in Vietnam.
