Asian Junior Championships: Shuttlers beat India and Thailand to charge into s-finals

Malaysia came back strongly from the opening day defeat to Hong Kong to storm into the semi-finals of the mixed team event at the Asian Junior Badminton Championships in Gimcheon, South Korea, yesterday.
The top seeded national juniors had suffered an unexpected defeat against Hong Kong on Saturday and looked to be in danger of missing the quarter-finals.
But the team looked determined to make the last eight and, led by national junior champion Soong Joo Ven, powered past India 3-2 in their final group match to make the cut.

In great form: Soong Joo Ven played with confidence to lead Malaysia to victory over India and Thailand.

Joo Ven scored an excellent 21-17, 20-22, 21-10 win over India’s Sameer Verma to pave the way for the team.
The mixed pair of Tan Wee Gieen-Chow Mei Kuan and the boys’ doubles of Darren Isaac Devadass-Tai An Khang also bounced back from opening day defeats against Hong Kong to hand Malaysia an unassailable 3-1 lead.
India took two points from P.V. Sindhu in the girls’ singles and Sindhu-K. Maneesha in the doubles.
In the last eight, Malaysia were once again on fire against Thailand, who had earlier shocked hosts South Korea in a Group C match, with Wee Gieen-Mei Kuan combining well once again to beat SitthikomThammasin-Lam Narissapat 19-21, 21-15, 21-14.
Joo Ven then carried on his fine form by whipping Khosit Phetpradab 21-14, 21-11 to give Malaysia a 2-0 lead.
Thailand reduced the deficit when rising star Busanan Ongbun-rungphan outclassed Lim Chiew Sien 21-13, 21-13 in the girls’ singles.
But Malaysia sealed the win when Wee Gieen-Calvin Ong battled back from a game down to beat Natpaphon Kitphaibool-Puthaporn Bvornwatanuwong 20-22, 21-17, 21-13 for the winning point.
Malaysia next face nemesis China in the last four and will be looking to avenge their defeat in the last two finals.
BA of Malaysia (BAM) junior programme coordinator Hau Kim Tho believes the team had a morale boosting win over Thailand but will start as underdogs against China.
“It was a great result both against India and Thailand. The players really stepped up today after their defeat to Hong Kong,” said Kim Tho.
“Joo Ven played very well and is certainly in fine form. We need him to maintain his level if we are to make the final.
“I believe we are the underdogs against China. Hopefully, that will make our players try harder.”
The other semi-final is between South Korea and Japan. The hosts defeated Hong Kong 3-0 while Japan outclassed Indonesia 3-0 in the quarter-finals.
Courtesy of The Star