Ling Ching heroics fail to ignite Malaysia’s cause

KUCHING (Dec 8): Sarawak-born shuttler Wong Ling Ching conjured a stunning result but it was not enough for Malaysia to pull off an upset over Indonesia in the women’s team semi-finals at the SEA Games on Monday. Indonesia eventually prevailed 3-2 in the topsy turvy clash over three singles and two doubles matches at the Thammasat University Rangsit Gymnasium in Bangkok, Thailand.

The Indonesians entered the court with significantly higher ranked players in the singles while the Malaysians held the edge in the doubles. Based on the form book, Malaysia’s chance to win lay squarely on any of its singles players pulling off an upset.

Putri Kusuma Wardani, World No.7, kicked off for Indonesia with an easy 21-9, 21-10 win over K. Letshanaa (world No. 42). Malaysia drew level although World No.2 doubles pair Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah needed three sets 21-14, 17-21, 21-16 to overcome the Indonesian duo of Rachel Allessya Rose-Febi Setianingrum.

Next up was the second singles match as Ling Ching took to the court against Indonesia’s Gregoria Tanjung. It was the first ever encounter between the two.

Tanjung, a former world junior champion and currently ranked No.10 in the world, was the clear favourite. The 22-year-old Ling Ching, though, has been moving up the world rankings from 90 to 44 since she joined the national squad in February this year.

In recent months, she went on a rampage of giant-killing acts on the world tour. She registered a string of victories over higher ranked opponents from Taiwan, Denmark, Thailand and India. The rising star, who hails from Miri, went on to make her biggest conquest when she defeated Canada’s Michelle Li, world No.15 and former Commonwealth Games champion, just last month.

Even so, few would have expected Ching Ling to add to her impressive list of recent upsets yesterday. She is actually still recovering from a bout of flu in the past week.

I know she is a skilful and experienced player. I had expected to be thrashed by her (Tanjung), she told the media after pulling off a sensational 22-20, 15-21, 21-16 win in the 66-minute duel.

Her unexpected win against the odds, however, failed to turn the tide against the Indonesians.

Instead, Febriana Dwipuji Kusuma-Meilysa Trias Puspitasari simply overwhelmed Malaysia’s scratch pair of Go Pei Kee-Toh Ee Wei 21-10, 21-9 in the second doubles.

In the fifth and deciding match to break the 2-2 tie, Mutiara Ayu Puspitasari beat Siti Zulaikha Muhammad Azmi in straight sets 21-18, 21-16 to usher Indonesia into the final to face Thailand.

Malaysia and Singapore have to be contented with the bronze medal as losing semi-finalists.