Kuala Lumpur: A day after beating the Rio Olympic silver medalists Goh V Shem/Tan Wee Kiong, World No. 23 Ong Yew Sin/Teo Ee Yi carried their impeccable form into the Malaysia national championships final on Saturday.
Seeded third at Malaysia’s biggest domestic badminton event, Ong/Teo needed only 26 minutes to dismiss No. 2 seeds and World No. 19 Aaron Chia/Soh Wooi Yik 21-12, 21-19 to win their second national title. This was Ong Yew Sin’s third men’s doubles title as he had partnered Tan Wee Kiong to win the 2017 edition.
Meanwhile, the mixed doubles No. 1 seeds Chan Peng Soon/Goh Liu Ying overcame an erratic start to slowly gain in confidence. After losing the first set 17-21 to Hoo Pang Ron/Shevon Jemie Lai, Chan/Goh drew level in the second with 21-13. The hard-fought match continued in the decider where Chan/Goh fought from 10-14 down to tie the score at 17-17. It was where Chan/Goh’s brilliant movement and rich experience made a difference as the top seeds outlasted Hoo/Lai 21-19 in the decider to take home their second national title as a pair in 8 years. Chan Peng Soon had also won the same title in 2013 together with Lai Pei Jing.
“We are going to look into our problems, so that we can be better prepared for the German Open next week,” said Goh Liu Ying after the match.
In a mouth-watering face-off between the two Malaysian women’s singles queens, Soniia Cheah defended her title by beating Goh Jin Wei 21-10, 21-14 in 31 minutes.
“I have successfully proved myself at the tournament. It’s difficult to beat Jin Wei. The victory has boosted my confidence ahead of All England, and of course, All England is definitely a more difficult tournament,” said Cheah.
In men’s singles final, No. 3 seed Soong Joo Ven won the first set comfortably with 21-13 and barely breaks a sweat in the second set as his opponent, Leong Jun Hao retired due to injury when Soong was leading at 7-1.
“I am not satisfied with a national title. I hope I can win an international title this year,” said Soong after the final.
A pair of new Malaysian champion was born in the women’s doubles event when Anna Cheong Ching Yik/Lim Chiew Sien stormed past Cheah Yee See/Teoh Mei Xing 23-21, 21-17 for their maiden Malaysia national title.
