The atmosphere inside the Axiata Arena was electrifying but there was no golden ending for Malaysia when the men’s doubles pair Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi lost to Thailand’s Kittinupong Kedren-Dechapol Puaranakroh 19-21, 22-20, 17-21 in the final.
With that went Malaysia’s hopes of a two-gold target. At the 2015 Sea Games in Singapore the Malaysians won two golds (men’s singles and women’s doubles). Malaysia ended their 29th Sea Games with one gold, 5 silvers and 2 bronze.
It was a brave performance from the Malaysians who had the home fans rooting for them but they simply could not raise their game into a higher gear at the crucial moments.
“I could not stretch my arm after coming down with cramps,” said Ee Yi after the match.
Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) president Datuk Seri Norza Zakaria later told reporters that it was an encouraging heartwarming performance from the national shuttlers.
“I am satisfied with the women shuttlers. Congratulations to Jin Wei for winning the gold in the women singles, said Norza.
Earlier in the all-Thai women’s doubles top seeds Puttita Supajirakul-Sapsiree Taerattanachai conceded the gold to compatriots Jongkolphan-Rawinda Prajongjai after Sapsiree injured her left knee when she landed awkwardly while retrieving a shot.
Jongkolphan-Rawinda won the first game 21-16 and down 7-8 in the second when the incident happened. – BY RIZAL ABDULLAH
RESULTS
MEN’S DOUBLES
Kittinupong Kedren-Dechapol Puavaranukroh (Tha) beat Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi 21-19, 20-22, 21-17
WOMEN’S DOUBLES
Jongkolphan Kititharakul-Rawinda Prajongjai (Tha) beat Puttita Supajirakul-Sapsiree Taerattanachai (Tha) 21-16, 7-8 (rtd)
