Malaysian shuttlers fall short in International U-19 finals

National junior player M. Thinaah in action at the Maybank Malaysia International Youth Under-19 tournament. She lost in Sunday's final.

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian shuttlers suffered a meltdown at the Maybank Malaysia International Youth Under-19 tournament.

Malaysia had representatives in four finals on Sunday but all ended in dismay at the Juara Stadium in Bukit Kiara.

Looi Badminton Academy’s Yeoh Seng Zoe had the best chance to nick his first title but had to concede a walkover to Thailand’s Adulrach Namkul in the boys’ singles final due to a swollen ankle.

The 18-year-old Seng Zoe suffered the injury in the semi-finals against Badminton Association of Malaysia’s (BAM) R. Satheishtharan on Saturday.

The other finalists – the BAM’s Goh Sze Fei-Teoh Mei Xing, Aaron Chia Teng Fong (left)-Soh Wooi Yik - pic above and M. Thinaah – played well but ended up on the losing side.

Sze Fei-Mei Xing got off to a brilliant start against Yantoni Edy Saputra-Mychelle Crhystine Bandaso of Indonesia but eventually ran out of steam, losing 21-13, 14-21, 14-21 in the mixed doubles.

Teng Fong-Wooi Yik had a good chance in the boys’ doubles but they froze in the decider and went down 21-16, 17-21, 16-21 to Yahya Adi Kumara-Yantoni Edy Saputra of Indonesia.

Credit should be given to underdog Thinaah, who gave a good fight before bowing out to South Korea’s Shim Ye-rim 15-21, 20-22 in the girls’ singles final.

Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS) project manager Kwan Yoke Meng said: “We targeted an all-Malaysia final in the boys’ singles and doubles but only have silver medals to show... so that is disappointing.

“There are some plus points though. Aaron and Wooi Yik are playing together for the first time and they did well to reach the final. Thinaah gave a good account of herself.

“It was also good to see the determination by Seng Zoe.”

FINAL RESULTS

Boys’ singles: Adulrach Namkul (Tha) w.o. Yeoh Seng Zoe (Mas).

Boys’ doubles: Yahya Adi Kumara-Yantoni Edy Saputra (Ina) bt Aaron Chia Teng Fong-Soh Wooi Yik (Mas) 16-21, 21-17, 21-16.

Girls’ singles: Shim Ye-rim (Kor) bt M. Thinaah (Mas) 21-15, 22-20.

Girls’ doubles: Tania Oktaviani Kusumah-Vania Arianti Sukoco (Ina) bt Cynthia Shara Ayunidha-Rofahadah Supriadi Putri (Ina) 21-14, 17-21, 21-19.

Mixed doubles: Yantoni Edy Saputra-Mychelle Crhystine Bandaso (Ina) bt Goh Sze Fei-Teoh Mei Xing (Mas) 21-13, 14-21, 14-21.

Pictures by FAIHAN GHANI/ The STAR