Jestin (right) and Brandt showing their medals after the tournament.
DESPITE a valiant campaign against the Indonesian pair by Malaysian veteran shuttlers KT Jestin Mendis and his partner, the gold medal eluded them.
In the finals of the Men’s Doubles 110+ years category at the 2024 Kizuna Chiang Mai International Badminton Sawasdee Cup, Jestin and his German partner Thomas Brandt placed runner-up with the silver medal.
They were defeated by Indonesia’s former No.1 singles player Marleve Mario Mainaky – a Thomas Cup veteran from 1998, 2000 and 2002 – and his partner Effendy Widjaja, who won 31-13.
“The final match was intense and nerve-wracking as it was our first time competing against the former world champion,” said Jestin.
“We tried our best to topple the pair but they did not budge.
“I am incredibly grateful to my partner, who offered me constant words of encouragement both before and during the game, keeping my spirits high.
“Although we didn’t win, we are extremely proud to have had the opportunity to play against a world champion.
“It’s an unforgettable experience that I will cherish for the rest of my life,” he added.
The tournament featured over 1,000 participants from 26 countries, showcasing talent across various age groups.
Reflecting on his progress, Jestin said he started competing at the Sawasdee Cup in 2019 but didn’t win any medals in his first two attempts.
“Losing motivated me to train harder and keep improving, and this year, the hard work has finally paid off,” he said, adding that he was grateful for his wife’s unwavering support.
Brandt said they narrowly won in the semi-finals against Chow Kin Man and Tang Chi Man of Hong Kong.
“The set was played to 31 points without extra time or additional points.
“We were 30-27 behind and we turned the deficit into a 31-30 victory,” he said.
Several other Malaysian shuttlers also participated in the tournament and managed to win medals.
John Ong, who partnered Dani Araya Abdullah of Indonesia, won gold in the Men’s Doubles 40-44 age group.
Mike Ng We Kuan managed to win a silver medal while Tom Yeoh won a bronze medal in the Men’s Singles 50-54 age group.
