Cheam June Wei lolos ke final Kejohanan Badminton Cabaran Antarabangsa Malaysia 2019 manakala Leong Jun Hao berakhir di peringkat separuh akhir setelah tunduk kepada pemain China, Ren Peng Bo, dalam aksi tiga set sebentar tadi.
Pertarungan separuh akhir pertama perseorangan lelaki di Kangar, Perlis itu menyaksikan wakil pertama, June Wei, turun berdepan pemain Jepun, Kodai Naraoka.
Pemain berumur 22 tahun itu tampil bertenaga walaupun menyedari berdepan pemain pilihan keempat kejohanan tersebut apabila mendahului set pertama 21-18.
Momentum itu bagaimanapun tersekat setelah Naraoka bangkit dengan kemenangan 21-12 dan aksi set penentuan menjadi lebih mendebarkan apabila masing-masing tampil dengan lebih kemas.
Begitupun, June Wei bijak menggunakan peluang di penghujung perlawanan untuk menamatkan aksi 21-17.
Harapan untuk melihat seorang lagi wakil negara ke pentas akhir tidak kesampaian apabila Jun Hao ditunjuk jalan keluar oleh Peng Bo.
Aksi itu turut berakhir dengan tiga set setelah kedua-dua pemain mempamerkan aksi sengit.
Set pertama terlebih dahulu memihak kepada Jun Hao apabila menang 21-15.
Tetapi lawannya itu bangkit dalam set kedua dengan corak permainan lebih pantas dan memerangkap juara Kejohanan Remaja Asia 2017 berkenaan untuk tunduk 21-17.
Menyedari Jun Hao -- yang baru kembali daripada beberapa siri kecederaan -- dalam tertekan, pemain China tersebut terus menguasai set ketiga untuk menang mudah 21-9.
Sementara itu, beregu campuran muda negara, Man Wei Chong-Pearly Tan, turut mara ke pentas akhir setelah menundukkan pasangan Jepun, Kyohei Yamashita-Naru Shinoya, 21-18, 21-19.
Penulis Jemputan
Sat Nov 16 2019
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