They were nearly dropped from the Asian Games team after the world championships in Nanjing but Malaysia’s second-ranked men’s doubles pair Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Ti delivered a stunner at the Istora Senayan Stadium in Jakarta on Saturday to march into the quarter-finals.
The young Malaysians stunned Japan’s third seeds and third-ranked in the world Takeshi Kamura-Keigo Sonoda in straight games 21-14, 21-17 to make the quarters.
They will play the winners of the Fajar Alfian-Muhammad Rian Ardianto (Indonesia) and Kim Wan-ho-Seo Seung-ja (Korea) tie later in the day.
The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) seriously considered dropping the pair from the Asian Games after world meet when they lost to compatriots and top-ranked Malaysians Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong in the second round in Nanjing.
BAM had considered replacing them with Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik because this pair reached the quarter-finals in Nanjing.
However, good sense prevailed and BAM retained Yew Sin-Ee Yi for the Asiad with a target of “two medals of any color” after Datuk Lee Chong Wei pulled out from the world championships and the Asian Games due to ill health.
At the time of writing this story, Malaysia still has V Shem-Wee Kiong in contention for a medal. – BYÂ RIZAL ABDULLAHÂ
