BANGKOK: Shuttler Wong Ling Ching pulled off a stunning win over world No. 10 Gregoria Mariska but could not prevent Malaysia from going down 2-3 to Indonesia in the women’s team semi-finals in the SEA Games.
World No. 44 Ling Ching, who was playing in the second singles, fought brilliantly to beat Gregoria 22-20, 15-21, 21-16 in 66 minutes at Thammasat University in Pathum Thani on Monday (Dec 8).
The rousing win gave Malaysia a 2-1 lead after contrasting fortunes for world No. 42 K. Letshanaa and World Championships silver medallists Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah in the first singles and doubles, respectively.
Letshanaa went down 9-21, 10-21 to world No. 7 Putri Kusuma before Pearly-Thinaah pulled the team level by coming out on top over Rachel Allessya-Febi Setianingrum 21-14, 17-21, 21-16.
In the second doubles, though, team captain and mixed doubles specialist Toh Ee Wei, who was surprisingly combined with Go Pei Kee, struggled for rhythm in an unfamiliar role and lost 10-21, 9-21 to Febriana Dwipuji-Meilysa Puspitasari.
It then fell to world No. 91 Siti Zulaikha Azmi to save Malaysia, but the 19-year-old suffered an 18-21, 16 -21 defeat at the hands of world No. 76 Mutiara Ayu.
The narrow loss meant that Malaysia had to settle for bronze.
It was still an improved showing for the team after going down in the quarter-finals in the last two editions in Vietnam (2021) and Cambodia (2023).
