SIBU: Sarawak claimed victory in its first badminton match of the group stage after defeating Sabah 3-2 in their encounter at the Indoor Stadium here on Saturday.
They started in Group A strongly with its women’s singles player, Wong Ling Ching, defeating Sabah’s Cassey Rynn Rompog in straight sets, winning both sets 21-9.
Meanwhile, in the men’s singles, Goh Shun Huat did not give way to Sabah player Muhammad Nur Azhar Zunaide, following Wong’s footsteps by also winning in straight sets.
Goh left his opponent with a 9-point gap, winning the first set 21-12.
However, in the second set, Muhammad Nur Azhar was determined to take Goh to a rubber game, but ultimately failed as his opponent (Goh) finished the match with a 28-26 win in the second set.
In the mixed doubles match, Sarawak’s Jeremy Juan Zhen Liang and Genevie Lim Tsin Yeen aimed to keep the winning momentum going against Sabah.
Despite Sabah’s mixed doubles pair, Hafiz Hakimi Hashim and Jola Lim Zi Yu, pushing the game to a rubber set, Sarawak held on to win the decisive set.
The mixed doubles score was 21-15, 16-21, 21-15 in favour of Sarawak.
In the women’s doubles, Sabah finally secured a group point by sending Arena Satu Samin and Goh Shuen Tong against Sarawak’s Kashley Kho Tze Yin and Lee Zi Suen.
The Sabah duo won in straight sets with scores of 21-15 and 21-11.
The last match between Sarawak and Sabah was won by Sabah through its men’s doubles team, Datu Anif Isaac Datu Asrah and Hymns Isaiah Shim.
Sarawak’s men’s duo, Isyraf Hafizin Ibrahim and Pui Wee Young, conceded defeat after losing 16-21 and 21-18 in straight sets to Sabah.
Earlier in the morning session, Sabah was defeated by Selangor with a score of 5-0.
Today (August 18), Sarawak will face Selangor at 10 am.
