Muar City BC clinch grand double by winning the Champions Challenge

Muar City BC clinched a grand double by winning the Resorts World Genting Champions Challenge to add to the Purple League title which they have won for two years.

In a thrilling Champions Challenge final at the Arena of Stars in Genting Highlands on Sunday Muar City BC came from behind to snatch the title with a 10-8 win over Puchong United BC – thanks to Tan Chun Seang’s smashing 3-0 ( 11-8, 11-6, 11-2) win over Syed Akhbar Shah Mustakim in the second men’s singles in the final match.

“The late Tunku Jalil took a keen interest in the team and was very concerned with the team. We dedicate the double to the late Tunku Jalil and the Royal Family of Johor. We have a Royal Family who are very supportive of sports in Johor,” said Woon Han.

“This win is also for our supporters who have been with the team throughout. To the players and team officials a big Thank You for the double. They never gave even when the chips were down. It was tremendous fighting spirit from the team”

Puchong United had knocked out defending champions Kepong BC in the semi-finals on Saturday and looked like continuing with the giant killing feat when they won the opening men’s singles and the women’s singles for a 6-1 lead.

Liew Daren, making a comeback to competitive badminton after laying off for more than two months due to a hamstring injury, continued with his remarkable form when he outplayed Puchong United’s South Korean veteran Lee Hyun Il 4-11, 11-6, 11-7, 11-6 in 43 minutes.

It was 6-1 for Puchong United when Ayumi Mine proved too strong for her Indonesian opponent Rusydina Antardaya in her women’s singles match. The Japanese lass won 11-7, 11-5, 11-6 in 28 minutes.

But the tide changed in the doubles events when Korean veterans Han Sang-hun-Lee Hyo-jung overcame Cheng Wen Hsing-Yew Hong Kheng 11-9, 10-11, 11-9, 6-11, 11-6 in the mixed doubles to narrow the deficit to 8-4 for Muar.

It was a stroll for Chow Pak Chuu-Tan Bin Shen in the men’s doubles – a straight set 11-8, 11-2, 11-7 win over Puchong’s Ow Yao Han-Victor Ong Jing Khai in the men’s doubles.

Chun Seang delivered the winning points and the celebrations began for Muar who lost to Kepong BC in last year’s Champions Challenge final.

Muar City pocketed RM148,000 for winning the Champions Challenge while Puchong settled for RM108,000. Winning the Purple League earned Muar City RM1 million in prize money.