Skuad badminton wanita negara mencipta kejutan menewaskan Thailand 3-1 dalam perlawanan akhir acara berpasukan Sukan Universiti Asean (AUG) 2018 di Stadium Tertutup Wunna Theikdi, Nay Pyi Taw, hari ini, sekali gus menuai pingat emas keempat kontinjen negara.
Kejayaan itu menebus kembali prestasi kurang memberangsangkan ketika di Singapura 2016 apabila skuad wanita gagal mara ke perlawanan akhir.
Lebih manis, mereka berjaya menumbangkan juara bertahan, Thailand, walaupun awal permainan menyaksikan lawan terlebih dahulu meraih pendahuluan.
Mata skuad negara disumbangkan pemain perseorangan, Lee Zii Yii dan N. Saranya, serta pemain beregu, Ng Qi Xuan dan Desiree Shan.
"Saya tidak sangka boleh menang 3-1. Kami menyasarkan dua acara perseorangan menerusi saya dan Saranya, kemudian salah satu daripada pasangan beregu. Tidak sangka menang 3-1 kerana berfikir akan beraksi dalam aksi penentuan," kata Zii Yii.
Bagaimanapun, hajat untuk pasukan lelaki turut menuai emas tidak kesampaian biarpun berdepan lawan sama, Thailand.
Meskipun tewas 0-3 di pentas final, ia sekurang-kurangnya memperbaiki pencapaian di Singapura dua tahun lalu apabila Malaysia sekadar meraih gangsa.
Apatah lagi, skuad yang mendapat sentuhan Rashid Sidek itu tempang tanpa dua tonggak utama, Low Juan Shen dan Nur Azryn Ayub, yang hanya akan menyertai pasukan menjelang saingan individu yang bermula esok.
"Kalau diikutkan dalam edisi lalu, Malaysia meraih gangsa. Kali ini, kami tidak sangka ke final walaupun kekurangan tonggak utama. Kami cuba sedaya-upaya untuk ke final dan ia membuatkan jurulatih berpuas hati. Semua pemain sudah melakukan yang terbaik," kata kapten skuad lelaki, Razlan Shah Ridzuan Shah.
Penulis Jemputan
Tue Dec 11 2018
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