SIBU: Title-chaser Tyrelink Wheel, as expected, edged SA Enterprise 2-1 to set up an intriguing final showdown with Hock Kwong in the Sibu Badminton Association (SBA) Challenge Cup 2012 held at TN Sports Complex.
Earlier, it was a walk in the park for Hock Kwong when they thrashed Paris Bridal 2-1 to qualify for the final.
Hock Kwong easily pocketed the first two games before conceding victory to Paris Bridal in the third game which was of no consequence.
For Tyrelink, the road to the final battle was full of punctuation but in the end, they managed to edge through.
Tyrelink, relying heavily on its top pair, Wong Kong Who and Lau Hua Chew, both former divisional players, opted for a different strategy and separated the duo.
Wong was partnered with Jeffery Phang instead and they easily demolished SA’s Tiong Chee Sing/Ting Yii Ping 21-11, 21-11.
SA refused to throw in the towel and in the second game; its lethal pair of Wong Mee Huo/Andy Ting showed their attacking prowess and surprisingly beat Lau Hua Chew/Yii Chin Tien 21-12, 21-17.
Both teams having bagged a point each, all eyes were on the third game as the crucial decider.
On paper, Tyrelink’s Wee Teck Hock/Johnson Ting was portrayed as a much stronger pair compared to SA’s Hii Ung Ming/John Ling.
Wee/Ting easily took the first set at 21-11 but in the second set, SA’s pair certainly woke up from the slumber and showed moments of brilliance and urgency.
It was point for point and at 13-13, Tyrelink edged ahead to 17-14 and 19-18.
Hii/Ling rallied from the brink of defeat and they secured the remaining three points to set up a crucial decider.
Unfortunately, the late rallies in the second game could have taken its toll on the SA’s pair and in the deciding set, they could not lift their game and went down tamely to Tyrelink 9-21. The match between Hock Kwong and Paris Bridal was straightforward.
Paris Bridal, one of the weakest teams in the tournament, could not match the fast pace of Hock Kwong.
In the first double, Hock Kwong former national player Ting Wei Ping and former Sibu champion Ting Ming Wong were in their element as they completely routed Paris Bridal Tiang Chin Luk/Ling Chang Hung 21-13, 21-15.
The pair of Wei Ping/Ming Wong was in an impressive form, giving their opponents no chance at all for any counter-attack.
Peter Ho/Paulus Lau then stepped in and as expected, they thrashed Paris Bridal’s Lau Kok Keong/Tiang King Chuong 21-16, 21-15.