Favourites Suffer First Reverse

Favourites Suffer First Reverse - Puchong United Badminton Club (BC) tasted defeat for the first time in this season’s SS Purple League (SSPL) after falling to Cheras BC 4-13 in their stage two Group A match at the Sports Arena Sentosa, Old Klang Road.

With the grand finals looming, leaders Puchong United BC rested several key players in their last Stage Two match as they have already secured a place in the semi-finals.

Meanwhile, Cheras BC were desperate to register a big win as they needed 11 points to overtake Petaling BC for an automatic semi-finals slot in next month’s SSPL Finals.

National shuttler Chong Yee Han’s experience shone through as the Cheras BC’s first men’s singles triumphed over Puchong United BC’s Chia Weijie 3-0 (11-8, 11-7, 11-7) giving his team a bright start.

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Cheras BC recovered swiftly to take the men’s doubles match. The experience of Danny Bawa Chrisnanta and Mohd Arif Ab Latif proved pivotal as they cruised past their opponents – Adam Lau Yu Ming and Wong Wai Jun – in straight sets (11-3, 11-8, 11-7).

Ahmad Maziri Mazlan and Shela Devi Aulia’s 3-1 win in the mixed doubles match meant that Cheras BC was one point away from the automatic semi-finals spot. The pair beat Puchong United BC’s Mak Hee Chun and Ng Qi Xuan 9-11, 11-7, 11-8, 11-8.

Cheras BC’s old head, Chong Wei Feng duly delivered in the last match of the SSPL 2017/18 Stage 2 as he trashed Puchong United BC’s Alfred Lau Yu Leong 3-0 (11-5, 11-5, 11-8).

“I am proud of my team’s efforts as we worked really hard to eventually finish second and enter the semi-finals directly.

“We will take it step by step. Obviously, we aim to enter the finals,” said Cheras BC head coach Rashid Sidek.

“But I am wary of the other teams such as Petaling BC as we do not know their true strengths. Despite this, I just want my players to work even harder and focus on our game,” he added.

In Group B, Petaling BC ended their SSPL 2017/18 Stage 2 campaign on the right note after defeating Ampang Jaya BC 14-7.

Cheras BC joins Puchong United BC in earning byes into the SSPL 2017/18 semi-finals while Petaling BC, Ampang Jaya BC, Kepong BC and Petaling Jaya BC will have to do battle in the quarter-final round.

Meanwhile, the SSPL Finals draw was held yesterday as the top six teams learned their fate in the knock-out phase which will be held at the Arena of Stars, Resorts World Genting from Feb 8 to 11.

Ampang Jaya BC will take on defending champions, Petaling Jaya BC in the first quarter-final while Kepong BC and Petaling BC will battle it out in the other quarter-final match. Both Puchong United BC and Cheras BC earned byes into the semi-finals.

This season’s favourites, Puchong United BC, will face the winner of the first quarter-final between Ampang Jaya BC and Petaling Jaya BC while Cheras BC play the victor of the second quarter-final.