PETALING JAYA: Siti Zulaikha Azmi was the hero for Malaysia as she secured the decisive point to send the women’s team into the semi-finals of the Thailand SEA Games with a 3-1 win over Vietnam on Sunday (Dec 7).
The quarter-final tie at Thammasat University in Pathum Thani got off to a promising start for Malaysia through women’s singles shuttler K. Letshanaa in her match against world No. 22 Nguyen Thuy Linh.
However, a string of unforced errors from Letshanaa allowed her opponent to take control and deny Malaysia the opening point with a 21-15, 10-21, 23-21 defeat.
Malaysia drew level at 1-1 when second singles player Wong Ling Ching rose to the occasion to beat Vu Thi Trang 21-14, 20-22, 21-14.
Women’s doubles world silver medallists Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah then showed their class, sweeping past Pham Thi Dieu Ly-Pham Thi Khanh 21-12, 21-8 in just 25 minutes to put Malaysia ahead 2-1.
The pressure was on third singles shuttler Siti Zulaikha, but the 19-year-old held her nerve to defeat Bui Bich Phuong 21-19, 21-19 and seal Malaysia’s place in the last four.
Malaysia will face Indonesia in the semi-finals on Monday (Dec 8) after beating Myanmar 3-0.
Meanwhile, the national men’s team also booked a place in the semi-finals of the team event after a comfortable 3-0 win over the Philippines in the last eight.
Malaysia got off to a flying start as Leong Jun Hao defeated Jewel Albo 21-17, 21-18 to secure the opening point.
Men’s doubles pair Man Wei Chong-Soh Wooi Yik, fielded as a scratch combination, also impressed with a straightforward 21-10, 21-12 victory over Solomon Jr. Padiz and Julius Villabrille.
Justin Hoh sealed the 3-0 triumph for the team with a 21-18, 21-19 win against Clarence Villaflor.
Malaysia will face host nation Thailand, who beat Myanmar 3-0, in the semi-finals.
By reaching the semi-finals, Malaysia have assured bronze in the men and women events respectively.
