Former World and Olympic champion Markis Kido alongside Afiat Yuris secured the crucial points in the men’s doubles to guide Cheras BC to their first win of the Resorts World Genting Purple League 2015 as they overcame Ampang Jaya BC 11-7 this evening here at the Sports Arena @ Sentosa.
With the score at just 7-4 to Cheras’ advantage after the men’s and the women’s singles and the mixed doubles, the pressure was on Markis-Afiat as they took on Ampang Jaya’s Chin-Muhammad Syawal to regain the advantage and at least put some buffer against their close opponents.
But Chin-Muhammad Syawal were certainly not cowed by the big name presence as they raced to an 8-4 lead at one point only to allow Markis-Afiat to pull up to 10-10 before winning the first set.
It was the same script for the second set as Markis-Afiat took another 11-10 win before securing the victory in the third 11-7.
“It was not easy in the first two sets. They played really well to take the lead and they defended well too,” said Markis.
“This is the first time I’m partnering this junior player and he did well, performance wise and mentally. I’m just glad that we managed to fight back and win the match outright.”
Earlier, Soong Joo Ven had given Cheras BC an outright 3-0 win (11-8, 11-5 and 11-8) over Ampang Jaya’s Setyaldi in the men’s singles before Febby Angguni then stretched that advantage following her 3-1 victory over Hera Desi in the women’s singles.
The ever cheerful Febby, who had picked up the sport as an enthusiastic eight-year-old, was just in her element on the day when she won the first two sets 11-10 and 11-2.
But compatriot Hera fought back to take the third set 11-8 before Febby clinched the winner 11-10 for the hard fought victory.
“Last week, I had lost to Hera (in the semi-finals of a local tournament) but this time round I was very determined to win. It had always been very close between us. I win some and she win some,” said the Bandung lass, who had previously won the Belgian International Challenge and also the India International Challenge in 2013.
“Today I fought for everything and I was really happy to win. I am proud to give the win to my club as this is a team event so it was very important that I play my part.”
But Ampang Jaya fought back in the mixed doubles with the pair of Kuan Kam Chung-Shevon Lai Jemie overcoming Ng Hui Lin-Tan Aik Quan 11-6 6-11 11-8 and 11-10.
With the score at 10-4 to Cheras’s advantage, the final men’s singles of the evening saw little-known Muhammad Arif having to take on the more experienced Hayom Rumbaka.
And while Muhammad Arif did try to make a game of it when he fought back from his first set 11-7 loss to win 11-9, there was no stopping the 24th ranked player in the world Hayom from winning 11-4, 11-4 for the final score line.
