SEA GAMES: Smooth Sailing For Malaysians

There were few surprises in the Sea Games badminton individual competition at Istora Senayan yesterday as most of the national players cleared the opening round without too much trouble.

Vivian Hoo (right) and Woon Khe Wei beat Vietnam’s Nguyen Thi Sen and Vu Thi Trang 21-14, 21-11 yesterday.

Only Lydia Cheah struggled in the women's singles to get past little-known Malvinne Cabanillas Alcala of the Philippines, who gave the Malaysian a scare before bowing out 21-13, 19-21, 21-14.

  Lydia plays fourth seed Fu Mingtian of Singapore in the quarter-finals while Tee Jing Yi meets top seed Porntip Buranaprasertsuk after beating Bianca Carlos of the Philippines 21-7, 21-11.

  Men's doubles Goh V Shem-Lim Khim Wah, who could be a major threat to both Indonesian pairs after beating Mohammad Ahsan-Bona Septano in the team event, easily cleared the first round by eliminating Singapore's Liu Yi-Terry Yeo 21-14, 21-8.

  They will next meet Myanmar's Than Lwin Aung-Thet Lwin Myint while Mak Hee Chun-Ong Soon Hock accounted for Singapore's Jeffrey Wong-Johnathan 21-10, 21-14 to set up a date with Thai fourth seeds Patiphat Chalardchalaem-Nipitphon Phuangphuapet.

  In the men's singles, Liew Daren advanced to a meeting with top seed Taufik Hidayat of Indonesia after beating Antonino Velarde of the Philippines 21-11, 21-10 but Arif Latif went out, but not before giving Indonesian third seed Simon Santoso a fight in a 21-11, 12-21, 21-17 defeat.

  Velarde returned to haunt Malaysia in the mixed doubles when he joined forces with Gelita Castillo to hand Lutfi Zaim Khalid-Lai Peng Jing a 21-19, 21-18 loss but Ong Jian Guo-Soon Hock remain in the hunt after overcoming Vietnam's Nguyen Hoang Hai-Le Thu Huyen 21-17, 21-18, although they next play top seeds Sudket Prapakamol-Saralee Thungtongkam of Thailand.

  Vivian Hoo-Woon Khe Wei brushed aside Nguyen Thi Sen-Vu Thi Trang of Vietnam 21-14, 21-11 in the women's doubles and will play Anneke Feinya Agustine-Nitya Krishinda of Indonesia for a place in the semi-finals.

  Another pair, Marylen Ng-Lim Yin Loo crashed out 21-15, 15-21, 21-17 to Singapore's Yao Lei-Shinta Mulia Sari after a futile effort in saving four match points in the third set.

Read more: SEA GAMES: Smooth sailing for Malaysians - Badminton - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/sports/badminton/sea-games-smooth-sailing-for-malaysians-1.7164#ixzz1dveVyDRz