TCBC breathe new life into their SSPL 2018/19 campaign

CYBERJAYA (11 JANUARY 2019): Tebrau City Badminton Club (TCBC) exacted revenge on Kepong Badminton Club (Kepong BC) when they stunned last season’s finalist, 12-6 to put their SS Purple League 2018/19 season back on track on Day 1 of Stage 2 at Gem In Mall, Cyberjaya tonight.

Losing 7-13 to the same team in Stage 1, debutants, TCBC have injected new life into their campaign which now sees them sitting pretty in fifth place, with the teams that finished in 3rd to sixth place after the end of the Stage 2 qualifying for the final rounds to be held on 24-27 Jan 2019 at the Arena of Stars, Resorts World Genting.

With this defeat, Kepong BC, who lost 8-10 to Puchong United Badmnton Club (PUBC) in last season’s finale, are still in fourth, within sight of the qualifying places but will need to buck up for their final tie in Group B, against Bukit Mertajam All Stars Badminton Club (BMASBC) on Sunday.

TCBC meanwhile, will face BMASBC tomorrow, with another win against the team who finished seventh at the culmination of Stage 1, will guarantee a passage through the final rounds alongside PUBC and Ampang Jaya Badminton Club (AJBC) who have booked their places earlier.

“It was an unexpected victory as we focused on a damage limitation exercise against Kepong BC whom we lost 7-13 previously.

“This win is a bonus for us, we are relieved and we can focus on our next match tomorrow. Our chances have increased but the gap is still there and we have to be wary of our opponents,” added assistant manager, Lim Kenn.

TCBC got off to the perfect start in the men’s singles when Satheishtharan Ramachandran scored his second win in the SSPL 2018/19, downing  China’s, Yan Runze, 3-1 (11-5, 11-10, 7-11, 11-4).

Women’s singles, Qin Jin Jing then got Kepong BC’s campaign back on track with a 3-0 (11-6, 11-2, 11-4) success against Indonesia’s, Rusydina Antardayu for last year’s finalist to lead 4-3.

Men’s doubles, Lee Jian Yi-Lim Zhen Ting then overturned Kepong BC’s lead with a 3-0 (11-5, 11-9, 11-9) win over Muhd Nuraidil Adha Azman-Tee Kai Wun for the tie to swing TCBC’s way, 6-4.

TCBC then made sure of the win when Malaysian-Taiwanese mixed doubles pair, Anna Cheong Ching Yik-Lu Ching Yao conceded a walkover to local pair, Soong Fie Cho-Tan Hwa Jin for an unassailable 9-4 victory.

Yeoh Seng Zoe then put the gloss on an overall impressive display for TCBC when he overcame a strong challenge from two time national champion, Lim Chi Wing to secure a 3-2 (11-9, 11-7, 8-11, 6-11, 9-8) victory for a 12-6 scoreline.

Meanwhile, in an earlier match, Serdang Badminton Club (Serdang BC) reignited their hopes for a place in the final rounds with a thumping 12-4 win over Bandar Maharani Badminton Club (BMBC).

With this win, Serdang BC have a stranglehold on sixth place, with the teams that finished in 3rd to sixth place after the end of the Stage 2 qualifying for the final rounds to be held on 24-27 Jan 2019 at the Arena of Stars, Resorts World Genting.

 

Muhd Shaqeem Eiman Shahyar (men’s singles), Alessandra Mainaky Lyanny (women’s singles),  Liu Lin-Yap Qar Siong (mixed doubles) and Teh Ziyi (men’s singles) contributed winning points towards Serdang BC’s haul which enabled them to maintain sixth spot previously from Stage 1.