Women’s defending champions fail to retain title

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THE Michael’s Badminton Academy (MBA) line-up failed in their bid to retain the Open A-Grade women’s team event at the Yonex Cup International Friendship badminton championships in Osaka, Japan recently.

Although they went down tamely 0-3 to South Korea A in the tie decided over three doubles, they got back on the right track with two convincing victories in the preliminary stages.

Team manager Lee Pui Yee admitted they found the competitive South Koreans too hot to handle in their opening group tie.

“Earlier, we had no intention to return to defend the championship. It was a last-minute decision to field a team and we were not well prepared.

Malaysia’s sole entry: MBA women’s line up comprising (from left) team captain Lim Pek Siah, Ong Sher Foong, Deane Lim, Lee Winnie, team manager Lee Pui Yee, Ooi Yu Hang, Ooi Swee Wenn and Mooi Hing Yau who took part in the recent women’s team event in Japan.

“Going in as the defending champions, the newcomers from South Korea were all fired up to put up a good display to produce an early upset. They were definitely on top of their game and all our three pairs lost in straight games. After a slow start, we were glad we bounced back and stayed in contention to progress to the elimination round,” she added.

Following a victorious debut last season, former Commonwealth Games women’s doubles gold medallist Lim Pek Siah led the sole Malaysian entry in the top flight contest at the three-day meet.

Among the regular faces making their second appearance at the meet were three former national team trainees — Lee Winnie, Ooi Swee Wenn and Mooi Hing Yau — along with former Kedah state representative Ong Sher Foong.

They also included two rookies — former national women’s shuttler Ooi Yu Hang and former Sarawak representative Deane Lim — in their campaign this season.

Seasoned campaigner: Mooi Hing Yau (front) and Lee Winnie in action during a friendly match before the tournament.

En route to the last eight, MBA defeated Sanyo Smile and Hyogo with identical comfortable 3-0 scores to finish as the group’s runners-up.

Unfortunately, Lady Luck was not smiling on MBA when they had to face South Korea A for a place in the semi-finals.

In the rematch against South Korea A, MBA’s first doubles combination of Hing Yau-Yu Hang showed glimpses of brilliance in winning the first game against Kim Shin Young-Lim Jin Yo before allowing their opponents to force the decider and wrap up the match 15-21, 21-17, 21-16.

It was a foregone conclusion when Winnie-Sher Foong failed to level the score and stretch the encounter down to the wire against Ahn Yu Jin-Lee Joo Hee.

The Malaysian duo did little to trouble their South Korean opponents, losing 10-21, 10-21.

“We made changes in fielding our line-up but was still not enough to overcome them. They were a more balanced and stronger side,” said Pui Yee.

However, local hopefuls Yonex ended South Korea A’s gallant run with a narrow 2-1 win from a closely contested tie in the semi-finals.

And Yonex also stumbled in clearing the final hurdle to settle for second behind Taiwan A.

Taiwan A emerged as the champions, winning the tie 2-0 but both nail-biting matches were decided over three games.

For next season, MBA are considering to strengthen their team with several seasoned campaigners to regain the trophy.

“We will certainly need to beef up the squad with Pek Siah leading the charge again. It will be great to have the services of (former national women’s singles shuttler) Law Pei Pei in the team. We want to form a stronger side in vying for honour but it will all depend on the players’ availability for the tournament,” said Pui Yee.