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PHNOM PENH – The national men’s badminton squad stormed into the team event semifinals as they cruised to a 3-1 victory against Vietnam in the quarterfinals of the 2023 SEA Games here, today.
Singles shuttler Leong Jun Hao drew first blood as the world number 61 player thumped Nguyen Hai Dang, 21-14, 21-16 at the Morodok Techo National Stadium.
After surviving a neck-to-neck battle against Vietnam’s main doubles, Nguyen Dinh Hoang-Tran Dinh Manh (21-19) in the opening set of the second game, national men’s doubles Beh Chun Meng-Goh Boon kept their cool to take the second set, 21-14, to extend the lead for Malaysia
However, Lee Shun Yang, ranked 93rd in the world, failed to carry the winning momentum as he went down to world number 163 player, Le Duc Phat, 13-21, 21-16, 7-21.
In the last match, national second doubles, Chia Wei Jie-Liew Xun stepped up to overcome Xun Nguyen Xuan Hung-Pham Van Hai, 21-14, 21-18, and seal the semi-final ticket for Malaysia tomorrow. – Bernama, May 9, 2023