SINGAPORE handed the Philippines their second 4-0 defeat in the 3rd Axiata Cup badminton team tournament while last year’s runners-up Thailand were given a tough fight by All Star Europe before winning 3-1 on the second day of the 3rd Axiata Cup team badminton tournament at the Britama Sport Hall in Jakarta on Friday.
For Singapore it was their first win after losing by the same margin to Thailand on day one on Thursday while Europe, with players from Scotland, France and Russia it was their first defeat after their 4-0 win over Philippines.
Singapore collected their first point through their No 1 men’s singles player Derek Wong.. However, the Commonwealth Games silver medallist was forced to come from a set down for his 13-21, 21-11, 21-9 win over Antonio Benyamin Gadi in a 39 minute encounter.
China-born Chen Jiayuan, ranked No 58 in the world, gave Singapore their second point with a 21-12, 21-10 win over Airah Mae Nicole Aldo in 21 minutes before Hendra Wijaya-Loh Kean Hean made it 3-0 with a surprise 22-20, 23-21 over World No 74 Paul Jeffersen Vivas-Peter Gabriel Magnaye in a closely fought match. The Filipinos won this year’s Swiss Open.
A 21-17, 21-17 win over Ronel Estanislao-Joella Geva De Vera by Tan Wei Han-Terry Hee Yong Kai gave Singapore a 4-0 win which will stand in good stead for Saturday’s match against Europe.
The Thailand-Europe match was a thriller all the way with the Thais taking a 3-0 lead after winning the men’s singles through Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk, the women’s singles through former world champion Ratchanok Intanon and the men’s doubles through Maneepong Jongjit-Nipitphone Puangpuapech.
However, all the matches went to rubber sets. Tanongsak took 53 minutes to subdue seven time France national champion Brice Leverdez 21-10, 14-21, 26-24 while Ratchanok took a bit longer (55 minutes) to beat Scotland’s Kirsty Gilmour 13-21, 21-13, 21-9 and Maneepong-Nipitphon won 14-21, 21-12, 21-12 against reigning European champions Vladimir Ivanov-Ivan Sozonov of Russia in 34 minutes.
“We have played the Russians four times and this is the third time we have beaten them. The Russians are a tough nut and beating them again is a booster for us in the coming matches,” said Maneepong.
Scotland’s Robert Blair-Imogen Bankier got Europe’s consolation point with a 21-16, 21-14 win over Sudket Prapakamol-Saralee Thoungthongkam in the mixed doubles.
RESULTS
THAILAND 3 EUROPE 1
(Thailand first)
Men’s singles
Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk beat Brice Leverdez (Fra) 21-10, 14-21, 26-24
Women’s singles
Ratchanok Intanon beat Kirsty Gilmour (Scot) 13-21, 21-13, 21-9
Men’s doubles
Maneepong Jongjit-Nipitphon Puangpuapech beat Vladimir Ivanov-Ivan Sozonov (Rus)
Mixed doubles
Sudket Prapakamol-Saralee Thoungthongkam lost to Robert Blair-Imogen Bankier (Scot) 16-21, 14-21
SINGAPORE 4 PHILIPPINES 0
(Singapore first)
Men’s singles
Derek Wong Zi Liang beat Antonio Benyamin Gadi 13-21, 21-11, 21-9
Women’s singles
Chen Jiayuan beat Airah Mae Nicole Aldo 21-12, 21-10
Men’s doubles
Hendra Wijaya-Loh Kean Hean beat Paul Jeffersen Vivas-Peter Gabriel Magnaye 22-20, 23-21
Mixed doubles
Tan Wei Han-Terry Hee Yong Kai beat Ronel Estanislao-Joella Geva De Vera 21-15, 21-17
FIXTURES SATURDAY (NOV 29)
Indonesia versus Malaysia
Vietnam versus Asia
(Both matches at 12 noon, local time)
Europe versus Singapore
Philippines versus Thailand
(Both matches at 6pm)
All matches at Britama Sport Complex, Jakarta.
