It was a bad start for Malaysia in the individual events finals when Chan Peng Soon and Shevon Lai Jemie could only manage a silver medal in the mixed doubles against Thailand’s Dechapol Puavaranukroh-Sapsiree Taerratanachai.
The top seeded Thai pair defeated the Malaysian second seeds 21-15, 22-20 in a 42-minute final which even left Soon Huat frustrated with himself when he failed to take shots that he normally takes with ease.
“It is very disappointing to lose the final at home…but it was a tough match. I am frustrated with myself as this is the second time I have lost a Sea Games final,” said Soon Huat after the match.
Soon Huat won the bronze mixed doubles bronze medal with Goh Liu Ying at the 2015 Sea Games in Singapore where they lost to Indonesia’s Praveen Jordan-Debby Susanto 21-18, 13-21, 23-25 in the final.
“We had a good chance of getting the gold playing at home. But it turned out otherwise.. There are several factors that contributed to our defeat. Our recovery from the semi-final match (against fourth seeds Isara Blodin-Savitree Amitrapai of Thailand) was also slow.
“Another obvious factor was that our movement on court in the final was also slow,” added Soon Huat who will now prepare for the Korea Open and the Japan Open.
While Soon Huat and Shevon Lai were disappointed with the defeat, the Thais celebrated the gold, especially Sapsiree who won the bronze in Singapore with her then partner Sudket Prapakamol.
RESULTS FINAL
Mixed doubles
Dechapol Puavaranukroh-Sapsiree Taerrattanachai beat Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie (Mas) 21-15, 22-20
