KUALA LUMPUR: Petaling BC secured bragging rights following their 11-7 victory over fellow Petaling rivals, Petaling Jaya BC, in the SS Purple League 2016/17 match on Friday at Gem in Mall, Cyberjaya.
Petaling were quick to secure a six-point lead over Petaling Jaya as Kenichi Tago and Lim Yin Fun cruised past their opponents, R. Satheishtharan and Sarita Suwannakitborihan in straight games.
In the headlining match, Petaling’s men’s doubles Andrei Adistia-Chen Tang Jie came back from two games down to win their match against Koo Kien Keat-Or Chin Chung 3-2 (8-11, 7-11, 11-2, 11-9, 10-6) – a result which clinched Petaling’s third win of the season.
With territorial pride at stake, Petaling Jaya’s Supanida Katethong-Tang Chun Man ensured their team remained above their rivals in the standings until the next round of matches by beating Agripinna Prima Ramanto-Devi Tika Permatasari 3-0 (11-9, 11-6, 11-7).
The second men’s singles match between Petaling’s Liew Daren and Goh Giap Chin ended in a 2-2 draw.
“It was worrying after we lost to Kepong 5-13 in the last game and that is when we knew we had to change things up, as we knew we were playing Petaling Jaya, who are in first place.
“I am proud of my players’ performances today and to get the win is a good achievement. However, to get 11 points from a strong side is definitely a bonus,” said Petaling’s head coach, Yap Kim Hock.
Petaling Jaya are still on top of the SSPL 2016/17 standings despite losing two matches in a row, while Petaling overtook Puchong United BC for second place.
Meanwhile, Bangsar Hawks BC recorded their first win of the SSPL after overcoming tournament favourites, Ampang Jaya BC 11-10.
Ampang Jaya started the match looking to prove a point through Thai international Suppanyu Avihingsanon who easily dispatched his Bangsar Hawks opponent, Wan Chia Hsin 3-0 (11-9, 11-9, 11-4) in the men's’ singles tie.
Despite trailing early on, Bangsar quickly levelled the overall score at six apiece, thanks to Lee Ying Ying’s 3-2 (6-11, 11-7, 10-11, 11-6, 1-0) win over Ho Yen Mei in the women’s singles match and Irfan Fadhilah-Loh Kean Hean’s 3-1 (11-6, 10-11, 11-5, 11-9) win over Lukhi Nugroho-Muhammad Syawal.
The men’s pair of Indonesian international Irfan and Kean Hean from Singapore, who were making their season debut, managed to defy the odds and defeat the more experienced pair of Syawal and Lukhi.
With momentum on their side, Bangsar Hawks marched into the mixed doubles match full of confidence.
Despite coming up against one half of the world number 12 men’s doubles pair and Danish international Kim Astrup, Joyce Choong-Pei Tian Yi finished off Ampang’s Danish shuttler and his partner Anna Cheong 3-1 (11-7, 8-11, 11-10, 11-6).
The win gave the Hawks a two point advantage on the overall score.
With all to play for in the second men’s singles match, Du Yu Hang duly delivered the vital points to secure Bangsar’s first win this season, which condemned Ampang Jaya to their third successive defeat.
Johor side, Muar BC capped off Friday’s action by seeing off an in-form Kepong BC side 12-6.
The win further strengthens Muar's position in fifth spot while Kepong dropped one spot to seventh.
