On paper defending champions Indonesia is the hot favorite to retain their SEA Games men’s team badminton gold in the final at the Muntinlupa Sports Complex in Manila on Wednesday.
 
Indonesia is determined to retain the gold they won at the 2017 SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur and have planned their strategies well – bringing their top two men’s singles players Jonatan Christie and Anthony Ginting to Manila – but only for the team event.
 
The duo will not play in the individual events as they will be off to Guangzhou for the season-ending World Tour Finals later this month.
 
The Philippines SEA Games final will be a repeat of the 2017 Kuala Lumpur SEA Games which Indonesia easily won 3-0.
 
The Indonesians might be favorites in Manila. However, it stops at that for Badminton Association of Malaysia coaching director Wong Choon Hann.
 
“I agree that it is not easy on paper but we will fight until the very last chance. We might be able to steal a point or two to stretch the final further,” said Choon Hann.
 
Malaysia beat host the Philippines in the quarter-finals and Singapore in the semi-finals by 3-0 margins. – BY RIZAL ABDULLAH
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