Thai shuttlers retain women's team gold; men settle for silver

Ratchanok Intanon of Thailand reacts after winning a point against Lim Yin Fun of Malaysia in their women's team badminton final match during the 28th SEA Games in Singapore on June 12, 2015. -- PHOTO: AFP 
Ratchanok Intanon of Thailand reacts after winning a point against Lim Yin Fun of Malaysia in their women's team badminton final match during the 28th SEA Games in Singapore on June 12, 2015. -- PHOTO: AFP 

SINGAPORE - With a former world champion in their side, there was little doubt Thailand would romp to victory in the SEA Games badminton women's team final.

The Thais gave Malaysia a 3-0 trouncing at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on Friday, retaining their title from the 2011 edition. Team events were not contested at the last Games in Myanmar in 2013.

World No. 5 Ratchanok Intanon posted the first point for her side in the singles, beating Malaysia's Lim Yin Fun 21-13, 21-14.

She said: "I felt a little nervous at the beginning. My opponent played like she had no pressure and it was pressurising for me."

Women's doubles pair Puttita Supajirakul and Sapsiree Taerattanachai, ranked 13th in the world, then beat the No. 26-ranked duo of Amelia Alicia Anscelly and Soong Fie Cho 22-20, 21-18.

World No. 18 Busanan Ongbumrungpan was dominant in her singles match, rounding off the victory for her side with a 21-8, 21-15 victory over No. 126 Ho Yen Mei.

The Thai's men's team are slated to play Indonesia in the men's final at 5pm on Friday.

Singapore finished joint-third with Indonesia.

In the men's team event, the Thais fell just short of winning their first men's team title since 1975, losing narrowly 2-3 to defending champions Indonesia.

World No. 22 Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk, Thai's top shuttler, beat Jonathan Christie (No. 37) 21-17, 21-19.

But men's doubles pair Bodin Issara and Nitpitphon Puangpuapech were no match for Indonesia's Ricky Karanda Suwardi and Angga Pratama, losing 15-21, 13-21.

Veteran Boonsak Ponsana posted a straightforward victory over Firman Abdul Kholik, winning 21-7, 21-14.

Unranked men's doubles pair Pakkawat Vilailak and Wannawat Ampunsuwan, while pushing No. 56 Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo and Gideon Markus Fernaldi to three games, eventually lost 18-21, 21-18, 14-21.

In the fifth singles, No. 68 Suppanyu Avihingsanon Ihsan Maulana Mustofa 22-20, 16-21, 9-21.

Singapore were also joint third in the men's event.

maychen@sph.com.sg

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