# SEA Games hope comes unstuck in quarter-finals
# Jin Wei and Soniia Cheah make the semis in women’s singles
Malaysia’s campaign in the men’s singles in the badminton competition came to an end at the Axiata Arena in Bukit Jalil on Sunday when medal hope Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin was ousted in the quarter-finals.
The 26-year-old Malaysian fell to a 21-16, 19-21, 16-21 defeat to 34-year-old Vietnamese veteran Nguyen Tien Minh in a 72-minute match.
“I don’t know what future holds me in my badminton career. This is very disappointing to lose when the country was counting on me to deliver a medal,” said Iskandar after his defeat.
“Right now I have no answers. It has been a bad year for me due to injury. I just lost my way after winning the first game. I was too eager to win and I blame myself. The coaches gave their all in training”.
The newly married Tien Minh was himself surprised to be in the semi-finals and had not given much hope after a poor run in the team events.
“I am 34 now and my body cannot take it anymore when competing at a higher level competition. This is probably my last Sea Games and to have reached this stage is surprising.”
Tien Minh will face top seed Indonesia’s Christie Jonatan – who defeated Singapore’s Ryan Ng Zin Rei 21-13, 21-13 – in the semi-finals while second seed Khosit Phetpradab of Thailand made the last four after a 21-8, 21-4 win over Myanmar’s Naing Phone Pyae.
Malaysia, however, could have an all-Malaysia final in the women’s singles after Goh Jin Wei and Soniia Cheah made the last four. Jin Wei, stunned second seed Fitriani Fitriani of Indonesia in a come from behind 13-21, 21-15, 21-12 win in 58 minutes.
The 2015 world junior champion will now face Thailand’s third seed Pornpawee Chochuwong – 21-13, 21-6 winner over Sarah Joy Barredo of the Philippines.
Soniia will face giant killer Gregoria Mariska of Indonesia who knocked out defending champion Busanan Ongbamrungphan of Thailand 17-21, 22-20, 21-17.
Malaysia’s number two men’s doubles pair Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi stayed in the hunt. The number three seeds booked a place in the last four with a 21-12, 21-6, win over Carlos Antonie Cayanan-Philip Joper Escueta of the Philippines.
The Malaysians will meet top seeds and Thai favourites Bodin Isara-Nipitphon Phuangphuapet who beat Indonesians Berry SAngriawan-Hardianto Hardianto 21-18, 18-21, 21-14.
In the women’s doubles Vivian Hoo-Woon Khe Wei, the second seeds, romped to a 21-12, 21-10 win over Singapore’s Ong Ren-Ne-Crystal Wong Jia Ying to advance.
Standing in their way for a place in the final is the Thai pair of Jongkolphan Kitithaqrakul-Rawinda Prajongjai who tamed Vietnam’s Nguyen Thi Sen-Le Thu Huyen 21-17, 21-12.
However, it was the end of the road for Chow Mei Kuan-Lee Meng Yean who lost tamely to top seeds Puttita Supajarikul-Sapsiree Taerattanachai of Thailand 21-9, 21-12.
Malaysia’s hope in the mixed doubles is very much alive when Chan Peng Soon Cheah Yee See overcame a jittery start to stop Singapore third seeds Terry Hee Yong Kai-Tan Wei Han 16-21, 21-19, 21-16 in 72 minutes.
Their next opponents are Thailand’s top seeds Dechapol Puavaranukroh-Sapsiree Taerattanchai. The Thais beat Alvin Morada-Alyssa Yasbel Leonardo of the Philippines 21-9, 21-17.
Second seeds Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie marched into the semis with a convincing 21-11, 21-15 win over Vietnam’s Pham Hong Nam-Thi Phuong Hong Dinh.
It is another Thai hurdle for the Malaysians for a place in the final. They face fourth seeds Bodin Isara-Savitree Amitrapai who knocked out Indonesia’s Hafiz Faizal-Shela Devi Aulia 21-12, 21-15.
QUARTER-FINAL RESULTS (SELECTED)
Men’s singles
Christie Jonatan (Ina) beat Ryan Ng Zin Rei (Sgp) 21-13, 21-13
Nguyen Tien Minh (Vie) beat Iskandara Zulkarnain Zainuddin (Mas) 16-21, 21-19, 21-16
Mustofa Ihsan Maulana (Ina) beat Loh Kean Yew (Sgp) 22-20, 21-11
Khosit Phetpradap (Tha) beat Naing Phone Pyae (Mya) 21-8, 21-4
Men’s doubles
Bodin Isara-Nipitphon Phuangphuapet (Tha) beat Berry Angriawan-Hardianto Hardianto (Ina) 21-18, 18-21, 21-14
Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi (Mas) beat Carlos Antonie Cayanan-Philip Joper Escueta (Phi) 21-12, 21-6
Kittinupong Kedren-Dechapol Puavaranukroh (Tha) beat Lee Jiang Liang-Jason Wong Guang Liang (Sgp) 21-10, 21-10
Fajar Alfian-Muhammad Rian Agung (Ina) beat Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin (Mas) 21-10, 21-14
Women’s singles
Gregoria Mariska (Ina) beat Busanan Ongbamrungphan (Tha) 17-21, 22-20, 21-17
Soniia Cheah (Mas) beat Nguyen Thuy Linh (Vie) 21-18, 13-21, 21-12
Pornpawee Chochuwong (Tha) beat Sarah Joy Barredo (Phi) 21-13, 21-6
Goh Jin Wei (Mas) beat Fitriani Fitriani (Ina) 13-21, 21-15, 21-12
Women’s doubles
Puttita Supajirakul-Sapsiree Taerattanachai (Tha) beat Cjwo Mei Kuan-Lee Meng Yean (Mas) 21-9, 21-12
Dinh Thi Phuong Hong Dinh-Do Thi Hoai (Vie) beat Sarah Joy Barredo-Alyssa Yasbel Leonardo (Phi) 21-11, 21-10
Jongkolphan Kititharakul- Rawinda Prajongjai (Tha) beat Nguyen Thi Sen-Le Thu Huyen (Vie) 21-17, 21-12
Vivian Hoo-Woon Khe Wei (Mas) beat Ong Ren-Ne-Crystal Wong Jia Ying (Sgp) 21-12, 21-10
Mixed doubles
Dechapol Puavaranukroh-Sapsiree Taerattanachai (Tha) beat Alvin Morada-Alyssa Yasbel Leonardo (Phi) 21-19, 21-17
Chan Peng Soon-Cheah Yee See (Mas) beat Terry Hee Yong Kai-Tan Wei Han (Sgp) 16-21, 21-19, 21-16
Bodin Isara-Savitree Amitrapai (Tha) beat Hafiz Faizal-She Devi Aulia (Ina) 21-12, 21-15
Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie (Mas) beat Pham Hong Nam-Dinh Thi Phuong Hong (Vie) 21-11, 21-15
