A mixed bag of emotions for sepak takraw and badminton protagonists

TWO indoor stadia located 20 kilometres of each other were packed to the rafters over the weekend as the main protagonists gave Malaysian sports fans a mixed bag of emotions.

From the monumental high of claiming a double world title at Titiwangsa Stadium from the men’s sepak takraw team to the disappointment of Lee Zii Jia’s defeat to Viktor Axelsen in the men’s singles of the badminton Malaysian Masters at Axiata Arena in Bukit Jalil, it was a week to remember.

Above all, we celebrate another world champion in our midst.

Malaysia ended Thailand’s reign as the world sepak takraw superpower by winning the Premier Division regu title in the Sepak Takraw ISTAF World Cup courtesy of a 2-0 victory.

With veteran skipper Farhan Adam, nicknamed Emon, back in the team at the age of 35 to be reunited with server or tekong Mohd Syahir Mohd Rosdi and Mohd Azlan Alias (killer), the trio beat arch-rivals and defending champions Thailand 15-8 and 15-12 in straight sets.

The combination of Syahir’s potent serves, Farhan’s playmaking skills and Azlan’s acrobatic moves and blockings stunned the Thai trio of Poramet Siriswat (feeder), Sittipong Khamchan (server), and Varayut Jantarasena (killer) into submission.

The decision to rest Syahir, who was replaced by Mohd Haziq Hairul Nizam in the second set, proved to be a smart tactical move as his left leg contributed some quick points, including the winning serve which could not be retrieved by Sittipong, sending the crowd into a frenzy.

Malaysia came close to the title on three previous occasions, losing to Thailand at the crunch.

In South Korea in 2022, Syahir, Azlan and feeder Amirul Zazwan Amir went down to Kritsanapong Nontakote, Thawisak Thongsai and Yodsawat Uthaijaronsri in the regu final.

In the first edition at Titiwangsa Stadium in 2011, the Thai team of Siriwat Sakha, Pornchai Kaokaew and Pattarapong Yupadee beat Noor Azman Hamid, Norshahruddin Mad Ghani and Farhan, 15-4, 15-6, 15-11.

In Hyderabad 2017, Kritsanapong, Jirasak Pakbuangoen and Rachan Viphan defended the world title in style by overcoming Syahir, Mohd Norhafizi Abdul Razak (Hanapiah Dollah) and Farhan Adam 21-19, 23-21.

With world body ISTAF dropping the 21-point scoring system to implement the 15-point system to make the sport more appealing as the service change hands after every point, fortune favoured the home team.

It was indeed a double celebration as Malaysia had also beaten Thailand 2-0 (17-16, 15-13) in the doubles competition played earlier, with Aidil Aiman Zawawi and Noraizat Mohd Nordin combining to beat Seksan Tubtong and Kittiphum Sareebut. Despite the defeat in the men’s team final to the Thais, thus denying Malaysia a hattrick of titles on the final day of the tournament, the two world titles are safely in the bag and take the pride of place for the Sepak Takraw Association of Malaysia.

At the Axiata Arena though, crowd-puller Zii Jia could not muster enough tactical nous and physical strength to deny Axelsen.

Still there was double joy for professional mixed doubles pair and newlyweds Goh Soon Huat and Shevon Jemie Lai as they clinched the title by defeating Indonesia’s third-seeded pair Rinov Rivaldy-Pitha Haningtyas Mentari 21-18, 21-19 in 48 minutes.

For Zii Jia, bugged by leg cramps after the quarter-final win over Anders Antonsen on Friday, the defeat to Axelsen should not distract him from the ultimate mission in the Paris Olympics.

Having bagged the Thailand Open title a week earlier, Zii Jia can take heart it was his best Masters performance after advancing to the semi-finals in 2020 and the quarter-finals in 2019.

In contrast, Badminton Association of Malaysia coaching director Rexy Mainaky was not entirely happy with his charges.

Men’s doubles duo Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik and mixed doubles pair Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei have been told to buck up.

World No. 4 Aaron-Wooi Yik, Tokyo Olympics bronze medallists, were eliminated in the quarter-finals, losing 11-21, 21-19, 21-19 to 34th-ranked Jin Yong-Na Sung Seung of South Korea on Friday.

Tang Jie-Ee Wei were ousted in the semi-finals, going down 11-21, 19-21- to fellow Malaysians and eventual winners, Soon Huat-Shevon on Saturday.

In the women’s doubles, second seeds and world No. 13, Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah succumbed to a defeat to world No. 26 Lee Yu Lim-Shin Seung Chan of South Korea, losing 16-21, 11-21 in the semi-finals on Saturday.

Zii Jia and Co will compete in two more tournaments before the Paris Olympics, namely the Singapore Open starting today and the Indonesia Open from June 4-9 before a planned centralised camp in Kuching prior to the departure to Paris.

In the meantime, let us savour the sweet victory by the sepak takraw team.