SEA GAMES: Second Stringers Give Hosts A Big Scare

There was not much hope to begin with but Malaysia's badminton second liners can walk tall after giving Indonesia a fright in a 3-1 defeat in the men's team final at Istora Senayan yesterday.

Goh V Shem-Lim Kim Wah being briefed on the heritage room by beat Bona Septano-Muhammad Ahsan yesterday. - Picture by Imran Makhzan

   Men's doubles Goh V Shem-Lim Kim Wah certainly will be a pair to watch when the individual events start today after scoring an upset win over top seeds Bona Septano-Muhammad Ahsan in front of a hostile crowd.


Coach Tan Kim Her was certainly impressed and pronounced himself satisfied despite settling for silver again as Indonesia retained the gold.

"The back-up players turned in impressive performances especially the first doubles. Even (Liew) Daren, if he had won the first game, things could have turned out differently.

"But this is a good test for them and I'm impressed with how they handled themselves in this environment," said Kim Her.

Indonesia sprang a surprise by omitting former Olympic champion Taufik Hidayat, the top seed in men's singles, from their line-up and promoting Simon Santoso to first singles.

The move paid off when Simon beat Daren 22-20, 21-12 but V Shem-Khim Wah dragged Malaysia back into the tie with an 18-21, 21-15, 25-23 upset of Bona-Ahsan.

Tommy Sugiarto, however, regained the lead for Indonesia with a 21-13, 21-17 beating of Arif Latif before Markis Kido-Hendra Setiawan showed they were a class above with a 21-10, 21-14 win over Mak Hee Chun-Ong Soon Hock.

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