Defending champions Selangor and last year’s runners-up Penang stayed on course for a repeat final after qualifying for the semi-finals in the 100PLUS National Junior Inter State Under-18 mixed team badminton championships at the Negeri Sembilan Chinese Recreation Club (NSCRC) hall in Seremban on Saturday.
In the quarter-finals Selangor crushed Johor 4-0 while Penang romped to a 4-1 win over Malacca. In other quarter-final matches Kedah, third last year were too strong for Perak with a 4-0 win while Kuala Lumpur were taken the distance before overcoming hosts Negeri Sembilan 4-3. N. Sembilan were fourth last year after losing 3-4 to Kedah in the playoff.
In the semi-finals Selangor will take on Kedah and Penang will battle Kuala Lumpur.
For Kuala Lumpur reaching the semi-finals is a joy itself after being shown the exit in the quarter-finals the last three years.
“This is our first semi-finals in four years and we are elated to have come this far. Penang are a strong side but we will give them a good fight. My players have shown tremendous fighting spirit as seen in our match against Negeri (in the quarter-finals),” said Kuala Lumpur coach Raymond Stevon.
Selangor’s Indonesian coach Danan Jaya, who has been with the team for four years, said the easy win over Johor does not make the champions favourites but is confident of another final. Nevetheless Danan is wary of Kedah and warned that Kedah are “tough opponents” in the semi-finals.
“We will have to work out the right strategies and play the right players if we want to beat Kedah. Kedah have been very impressive this year and I expect a tough ride from them,” said Danan, who has taken the team to the title three times.
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RESULTS (QUARTER-FINALS)
Selangor  4     Johor 0
(Selangor first)
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Boys
Singles
Satheishtharan beat Leong Wei Lun 21-15, 21-10
Muhammad Izzuddin Shamsul Muzli beat Liew Ming Hui 21-11, 21-19
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Girls
Singles Thinaah Muralitharan beat Chua Qiu Yi 21-11, 21-11
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Mixed Doubles
Eng Pui Yee-Low Hang Yi beat Ameer Amri Zulkarnain Zainuddin-Wong Kelly 21-16, 21-18
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Penang 4  Malacca  1
(Penang first)
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Boys
Singles
Yeoh Seng Zoe beat Aaron Chia Teng Fong 21-12, 21-17
Sim Fong Hau beat Wong Seng Khen 21-7, 21-10
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Girls
Singles
Lee Shun Mei lost to Yap Ling 16-21, 21-12, 19-21
Kong Yi Jin beat Joanne Wee Shoun Zhi 21-16, 21-10
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Mixed Doubles
Lim Ru Guat-Tan Jia Wei beat Seah Lin-Sim Guo Zheng 22-24, 21-16, 22-20
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Kedah   4    Perak    0
(Kedah first)
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Boys
Singles
Lee Zii Jia beat Chin Wai Kin 21-16, 21-19
Rooben Raj beat Muhamad Umar Al-Qathab 21-14, 21-12
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Girls
Singles
Pearly Tan Koong Le beat Desiree Siow Hao Shan 21-23, 21-12, 21-11
Eng Sin Jou beat Eoon Qi Xuan 15-21, 21-18, 21-13
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K, Lumpur   4      N. Sembilan   3
(KL first)
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Boys
Singles
Leong Jun Hao beat Chen Tang Jie 21-18, 21-18
Soh Wooi Yik beat Ng Jun Yan 21-16, 21-14
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Doubles
Mohd Iqram Muala Azman-Muhammad Aiman Malik lost to Chen Jia Huo-Wong Wai Jun 19-21, 12-21
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Girls
Singles
Too Shen Yee lost to Ng Qi Xuan 7-21, 8-21
Tan Sueh Joe beat 21-9, 21-9
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Doubles
Loh Bao Ying-Nur Johanna Adryana Saha beat Kelly Siow Zhi Yin-Zuelaikha 21-10, 21-19
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Mixed Doubles
Hoo Pang Ron-Loh Bao Ying lost to 18-21, 18-21
