[UPDATED] SEA Games: Malaysia slip behind Indonesia in men’s badminton team event

KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia had to settle for silver in the badminton men’s team event after losing 3-1 to gold medallists Indonesia at the 32nd SEA Games in Cambodia today.

Leong Jun Hao started the ball rolling on a positive note in the opening singles match up after upsetting higher ranked Chico Aura Dwi Wardoyo.

Chico, ranked 19 in the world, could not keep up with Jun Hao’s energetic play, and the world number 64 wrapped the match up in straights sets 21-16, 21-13.

Next up in the doubles match, Goh Boon Zhe and Rayner Beh Chun Meng were no match to 2022 All England champions Bagas Maulana-Muhammad Shohibul Fikri.

The first set was a stroll for the world number 14 pair securing a 21-12 win over their Malaysian opponents. 

Boon Zhe and Chun Meng put up a better fight in the second, but unforced errors see them go down 20-22.

Lee Shun Yang then lost in straight sets to Christian Adinata 17-21, 9-21 in the second singles match. 

Malaysia’s second doubles pair Chia Wei Jie-Liew Xun started brightly winning the first set 21-13 but then lost the next two sets 16-21, 16-21 to hand Indonesia the gold medal. 

The result means Malaysia repeated their silver medal showing in Hanoi last year.

Earlier the women’s team had exited the competition after losing to The Philippines 3-0 in the quarterfinals. – The Vibes, May 11, 2023