SEA Games: Malaysia men's badminton team to face defending champs Thailand after overcoming Vietnam

The Malaysian men’s badminton team made up for the disappointment of their female counterparts by checking into the semi-finals of the SEA Games men’s team event after overcoming Vietnam 3-1 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

In Tuesday's victory, Leong Jun Hao gave the national contingent the lead with a straightforward 21-14, 21-16 victory over Nguyen Hai Dang in a 40-minute success in the first men’s singles.

Men’s doubles pair Beh Chun Meng-Goh Boon Zhe, who were making their SEA Games debut, doubled that advantage with a 21-19, 21-14 victory over Nguyen Hoang Dinh-Tran Dinh Manh.

Lee Shun Yang, who was tipped to convert Malaysia’s outright victory, couldn’t do so and fell to a 13-21, 21-16, 7-21 against Le Duc Phat as Vietnam reduced the deficit.

But another SEA Games debutants Chia Weijie-Liew Xun confirmed the 3-1 win when the country’s second men’s doubles whipped out a 21-14, 21-18 win over Nguyen Xuan Hung-Pham Van Hai.

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Malaysia go on to face defending champions Thailand in the last four, while Indonesia face Singapore in the other semi-final.

The Thais had pipped Malaysia to the team event gold at last year’s rescheduled edition in Vietnam courtesy of a 3-0 triumph.

The national men’s team were the only ones through after their female counterparts fell to a shocking 3-0 loss against the Philippines on Monday.

The defeat prompted the Academy Badminton of Malaysia to call it “unacceptable”, with chief executive officer Michelle Chai promising to evaluate the team’s performance and find ways to strengthen the women’s department.

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