JACKY Kok was not even selected initially for the SEA Games in Cambodia.
The national men’s singles shuttler was only included as a late replacement for Justin Hoh who suffered an Achilles injury, but he turned hero for his team yesterday.
Jacky won the crucial deciding match in the men’s team semi-finals against defending champions Thailand and celebrated wildly after the victory.
He deserved the celebrations. The 21-year-old stood tall to beat Saran Jamsri 21-12, 21-13 to give his team a 3-2 victory at the Morodok Techo badminton hall in Phnom Penh.
“It’s such a relief for me to get this win,” said Jacky. “I really wanted to make full use of the opportunity given to me to play here.
“The pressure was on me but I didn’t let it affect me. I just focused on giving my best.”
It could have been a disastrous day for the team who took a 2-0 lead through Leong Jun Hao and doubles pair Beh Chun Meng-Goh Boon Zhe only to allow the Thais to grab the next two points.
World No. 64 Jun Hao had given the team a rousing start after stunning world No. 34 Sitthikom Thammasin 21-13, 18-21, 21-10 while Chun Meng-Boon Zhe secured a hard fought 21-16, 14-21, 21-15 win over Peeratchai Sukphun-Pakkapon Teeraratsakul.
Then, in the second singles, Ong Ken Yon, who was preferred ahead of Lee Shun Yang, squandered an opportunity to finish off the Thais when he lost 17-21, 15-21 to Panitchapon Teeraratsakul.
Chia Weijie-Liew Xun also found Ruttanapak Oupthong-Nanthakarn Yordphaisong too hot to handle in the second doubles and went down 16-21, 14-21.
Thailand were then eyeing the opportunity to nick a remarkable come-from-behind win but Jacky had other ideas.
It was also redemption for Jacky who was part of the team that went down 0-3 to the Thais in the final in last year’s edition in Vietnam.
Then, Jacky had been selected to play first singles but lost to Kunlavut Vitidsarn.
Despite yesterday’s win, Malaysia still have a tough task to win gold as they face mighty Indonesia in the final today.
The Indonesians had beaten Singapore 3-1 in the other last four tie.
Jacky wants his team to go all out to try and spring a surprise.
“We are the underdogs but we need to fight hard give everything we have,” said Jacky.
