Saturday December 15, 2007
A smashing performance
IN a repeat of last year’s final, UniPro Subang and Subang Badminton Club provided a pulsating final to the second edition of the Subang Jaya Community League team badminton tournament at USJ1 Badminton Hall last Sunday .
After finishing as runners-up in their debut last year, UniPro chalked up their second victory in the meet against defending champions Subang Badminton Club with a nail biting 3-2 win to lift the challenge trophy.
In the group match a week earlier, UniPro scored a more convincing 4-1 win over their archrivals.
UniPro team manager Zainal Abidin Ab Hadi said their players prepared for the last three months to go one up better in the tournament this year.
“The tournament has always provided the opportunity for social players around the Subang Jaya vicinity to mingle with each other on court,” he added.
Both teams went neck-to-neck and matched each other in the final tie decided over five matches - four men’s doubles and one mixed doubles.
In the fifth match and decisive men’s doubles, UniPro’s Ahmad Khaizarul Abdul Wahab-Mohd Rizal Abd Wahab came from a game down to beat the Subang Badminton Club’s partnership of Tan Tai Aun-Lee Seong Heng 17-21, 21-17, 23-21 to seal the tie.
“It was an exciting match. We did not play up to mark. We gave away points to our opponents through our own mistakes. Although we tried to put on a brave front during the crucial moment in the rubber game, we definitely felt the pressure,” said Rizal.
Despite the defeat, Subang Badminton Club captain Teoh Cheng Lock said they gave their best and fought till the end.
UniPro got off to a good start taking the first men’s doubles while Subang Badminton Club levelled the score 1-1 winning the second men's doubles.
Then, Subang Badminton Club allowed UniPro to extend their lead to 2-1 when they conceded a walkover in the mixed doubles.
However, the experienced pair of Woon Mun Teck-Ronnie Loh Teoh Siew kept Subang Badminton Club’s hopes alive when they tamed Eduardo Marusin-Rujiman Agus 21-10, 21-17.
“Although we were up against a younger pair, we were confident of winning. We won because of a better defensive strategy,” said Woon, 50.
UniPro went home RM500 richer while Subang Badminton Club settled for RM300.
Meanwhile, SBC only dropped a match giving away a walkover in the mixed doubles to defeat UniMix Subang 4-1 for third spot.
SBC and UniMix received RM200 and RM100 respectively.
Subang Jaya assemblyman Datuk Lee Hwa Beng gave away the prizes to the winners.
Sponsors for the community sports competition initiated by the Youth and Sports Ministry included 100Plus and Carrefour.
The tournament held over two weekends drew eight teams.
For the preliminary matches, teams were divided into two groups of four sides each.
Among the casualties in the group stages were Zone 3 Phantom, Sunway Team Rollers and SJUB.