Malaysia easily beat South Korea to win world junior title
PETALING JAYA: Sonia Cheah made her critics eat their words when she clinched a crucial point to help Malaysia create history by winning the mixed team gold medal for the first time in the World Junior Badminton Championships in Taiwan yesterday.
Not many had given her a ghost of a chance after her jittery performances in earlier matches. But the 18-year-old came good, delivering the second point by convincingly disposing of Kim Hyo-min 25-23, 21-12.
Top seeds Malaysia went on to beat South Korea 3-0 for the elusive title.
Sonia Cheah posing with the trophy after helping Malaysia win the mixed team title in the World Junior Championships in Taiwan yesterday.Zulfadli Zulkifli overcame a stuttering start to beat Lee Hong-je 17-21, 21-11, 21-14 for the first point before Nelson Heg Wei Keat-Teo Ee Yi clinched the winning point with a shaky 16-21, 21-18, 21-11 win over Choi Sol-kyu-Jun Bong-chan.
Sonia was estatic after the team’s breakthrough triumph. She was in the team that lost to China in the final two years ago.
“I am so happy I scored a point for Malaysia. The whole team was jumping for joy. Everyone did their best for the team,” said a delighted Sonia.
“I was not expected to deliver a point but I performed quite well and adopted the right strategy against the Korean. The opening game was quite tight but I kept my cool and kept psyching myself to be focused on the game.
“This gold medal effort is my best in my junior career. Now, I hope to go as far as possible in the individual event.”
The individual event begins today.
Malaysia’s junior programme coordinator Hau Kim Tho was extremely pleased with their success, although it was won in the absence of defending champions China.
China withdrew from the world junior meet without giving any reasons, although it may have to do with politics.
“Our junior team have landed their first-ever mixed team title. I am proud of their achievement,” said Kim Tho.
“This time, we had a balanced team. Even if China had taken part, our team would have given them a tough time. In the Asian juniors, the same team gave China a run for their money in the final before bowing out.
“I am happy for Sonia for finally coming good. South Korea fielded their second ranked singles player but Sonia did not take her opponent lightly and she did well to win.”
Now that Malaysia have achieved one of their targets, Kim Tho hoped they would continue with their good showing in the individual event.
“We won the boys’ doubles last year (in Mexico through Ow Yao Han-Yew Hong Kheng) and we hope that our boys will keep up the good tradition.
“We also have a fighting chance in the boys’ singles and, hopefully, we will return home from Taiwan with more than one gold medal,” said Kim Tho.
Source: Thestar
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