Hadi (third left) presents the prizes to SMK Batu Lintang team manager Bernard Phoa (third right) while Sarawak Education Department representative Mohammad Ann (fourth right) and the players look on during the prize presentation. Photo courtesy of Sarawak Badminton Association
KUCHING: SMK Batu Lintang Kuching swept both events at the inaugural AirAsia-BAM National Junior League Sarawak at the Sarawak Badminton Association hall last Sunday.
In the boys team final, SMK Batu Lintang edged SMK Kuching High School 3-2.
In the first singles and first doubles, Barrie Chang and Aloysius Lim-Jeremy Juan gave Batu Lintang a head start by beating Goh Shun Khiat 21-14, 21-18 and Ng Yong Ann-Ng Yong Loke 21-6, 21-14.
However, Kuching High climbed back to level 2-2 when Shun Huat and Clement Jong-Victor Yii overcame Felix Fong 21-18, 21-17 and Edward Ngui-Freddy Phang 21-13, 21-17 in the second singles and second doubles.
Chen Zi Quan saved the day for Batu Lintang when he eased to a 21-11, 21-12 win over Darrell Ong in the third singles.
Batu Lintang had topped Group A in the preliminary round and blanked SMK Chung Hua Miri 3-0 in the semi-finals while SMK Kuching High were 3-1 winners over Chung Hua Middle School No 1 in the other semi-final.
SMK Batu Lintang completed their double when their girls defeated Chung Hua Middle School No 1 (3-0), SMK Kuching High (3-0), SMK Tinggi Sarikei (3-0) and SMK Green Road (2-1) to collect four points in the five-team league competition. The champion team comprised of the Fong sisters of Felicia and Flora, Cindy Chu and Sharon Tien.
In second place were SMK Kuching High with three points with SMK Green Road third with two points.
SBA secretary Abdul Hadi Abdul Kadir closed the event and gave away the prizes.
The tournament, organised by BAM and jointly hosted by SBA and the Sarawak Education Department from Oct 26-29, was aimed at selecting players to represent Sarawak in the national finals in Kuala Lumpur early next year. Seventeen teams including five girls teams took part in the four-day inter-team competition.