SEA Games badminton: Wong crashes out, Loh advances to semis

Singapore’s Derek Wong lost to Thailand’s Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk in their men’s singles quarter-final clash at the Singapore Indoor Stadium, but compatriot Loh Kean Yew advanced to the sem-finals.

POSTED: 14 Jun 2015 17:23 UPDATED: 14 Jun 2015 21:43

PHOTOS

Singapore shuttler Derek Wong. (Photo: Goh Chiew Tong)

ENLARGECAPTION

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SINGAPORE: Derek Wong crashed out of the men’s singles tournament after losing to Thailand’s Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk 18-21, 21-17, 13-21 at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on Sunday (Jun 14).

Wong, whose father Wong Shoon Keat was the last Singaporean to win a men’s singles gold at the SEA Games, narrowly lost the first set but stormed back to level the match after winning the second set after a spirited display.

But Tanongsak came back hard in the decider and left the Singaporean trailing in his wake with a series of blistering winners, before closing out the set and match.

“I was trying hard to catch up but the gap was too big,” said Wong of the final set. “If it was smaller I would probably have the chance to overtake.”

He added: “I had to play faster than him, especially taking the front much faster than him. And he was getting the attack instead of me.

“That’s when I start to become very defensive and start to make some unforced errors. That’s where I lost all my points at the start of the third set.”

LOH KEAN YEW ADVANCES AFTER EASY WIN

Singapore’s Loh Kean Yew (above) meanwhile, advanced to the semi-finals of the men’s singles competition after easing past Cambodia’s Tep Chanmara 21-7, 21-7 in 14 minutes.

A jubilant Loh said he was not nervous about the match because of the Singaporean crowd, but did not expect an easy encounter.

“I was quite confident today, especially after beating Vietnam’s Tien Minh yesterday,” said Loh, who is ranked 139 in the world, on defeating world number 28 Tien in the round of 16. “So I told myself ‘I’ll just give it my all’. I’m also an underdog, so I have nothing to lose.” Loh will play the semi-finals on Monday.

MEN’S DOUBLES PAIR ADVANCES TO SEMIS

Men’s doubles duo Danny Bawa Chrisnanta and Chayut Triyachart will play in the semi-finals after overcoming Thailand’s Pakkawat Vilailak and Wannawat Ampunsuwan. Chrisnanta and Triyachart beat the Thais won 21-19, 17-21 and 21-18.

“It was a tough match, it’s more on the mentality – who was more daring to apply strategy in court and (stay) focused on the ball,” said Chrisnanta. The pair now faces Indonesia’s Ricky Karandisuwardi and Angga Pratama on Monday.

“We beat them in December last year, so we will use that as a weapon,” said Chrisnanta. “We’ll go in aggressive and hopefully we’ll have the home support, too.”

– CNA/rw

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SEA Games badminton: Wong crashes out, Loh advances to semis

Singapore’s Derek Wong lost to Thailand’s Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk in their men’s singles quarter-final clash at the Singapore Indoor Stadium, but compatriot Loh Kean Yew advanced to the sem-finals.

POSTED: 14 Jun 2015 17:23 UPDATED: 14 Jun 2015 21:43

PHOTOS

Singapore shuttler Derek Wong. (Photo: Goh Chiew Tong)

ENLARGECAPTION

A A

SINGAPORE: Derek Wong crashed out of the men’s singles tournament after losing to Thailand’s Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk 18-21, 21-17, 13-21 at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on Sunday (Jun 14).

Wong, whose father Wong Shoon Keat was the last Singaporean to win a men’s singles gold at the SEA Games, narrowly lost the first set but stormed back to level the match after winning the second set after a spirited display.

But Tanongsak came back hard in the decider and left the Singaporean trailing in his wake with a series of blistering winners, before closing out the set and match.

“I was trying hard to catch up but the gap was too big,” said Wong of the final set. “If it was smaller I would probably have the chance to overtake.”

He added: “I had to play faster than him, especially taking the front much faster than him. And he was getting the attack instead of me.

“That’s when I start to become very defensive and start to make some unforced errors. That’s where I lost all my points at the start of the third set.”

LOH KEAN YEW ADVANCES AFTER EASY WIN

Singapore’s Loh Kean Yew (above) meanwhile, advanced to the semi-finals of the men’s singles competition after easing past Cambodia’s Tep Chanmara 21-7, 21-7 in 14 minutes.

A jubilant Loh said he was not nervous about the match because of the Singaporean crowd, but did not expect an easy encounter.

“I was quite confident today, especially after beating Vietnam’s Tien Minh yesterday,” said Loh, who is ranked 139 in the world, on defeating world number 28 Tien in the round of 16. “So I told myself ‘I’ll just give it my all’. I’m also an underdog, so I have nothing to lose.” Loh will play the semi-finals on Monday.

MEN’S DOUBLES PAIR ADVANCES TO SEMIS

Men’s doubles duo Danny Bawa Chrisnanta and Chayut Triyachart will play in the semi-finals after overcoming Thailand’s Pakkawat Vilailak and Wannawat Ampunsuwan. Chrisnanta and Triyachart beat the Thais won 21-19, 17-21 and 21-18.

“It was a tough match, it’s more on the mentality – who was more daring to apply strategy in court and (stay) focused on the ball,” said Chrisnanta. The pair now faces Indonesia’s Ricky Karandisuwardi and Angga Pratama on Monday.

“We beat them in December last year, so we will use that as a weapon,” said Chrisnanta. “We’ll go in aggressive and hopefully we’ll have the home support, too.”

– CNA/rw