Kuala Lumpur: The Avengers shocked the Terminators to clinch the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) Mixed Team Championships with a 6-5 win in the last tie in Bukit Kiara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Wednesday.
The Avengers improved their offensive line-up led by World No. 9 men’s doubles player, Soh Wooi Yik, who contributed two points for the Avengers in the run for the title.
The Terminators hadn’t lost a single tie throughout the BAM Mixed Team Championships, ran out to a quick lead through Chow Mei Kuan/Pearly Tan in the first women’s doubles match on Wednesday by beating Myisha Mohd Khairul/Valeree Siow Zi Xuan of Avengers 15-8, 15-6.
Goh Soon Huat/Cheah Yee See of Avengers then leveled the score through the first mixed doubles match by beating Chen Tang Jie/Lai Pei Jing 15-13,15-12, but Lee Zii Jia put the Terminators back 2-1 after winning over Jacky Kok Jing Hong 15- 13, 15-11 in the first men’s singles match.
Soh Wooi Yik and Chia Wei Jie put together a dominant outing as they dismantled Goh Sze Fei/Low Hang Yee 13-15, 15-10, 11-6 to bring the score to 2-2.
Cheam June Wei and Eoon Qi Xuan of Avengers each contributed one point after winning over their respective opponents in the second men’s singles and first women’s singles thus putting the Avengers 4-2 ahead.
Lee Shun Yang narrowed the gap for the Terminators to 3-4 after defeating Shaqeem Eiman 15-14, 8-15, 11-4, but Goh Jin Wei of Avengers needing little time to overcome Siti Nurshuhaini Azman 8-15, 15-8, 11-6 to extend Avengers’ lead to 5-3.
The Terminators weren’t going to go down without a fight as Muhd ​​Haikal Nazri/Low Yeen Yuan as well as Chow Mei Kuan, Lai Pei Jing, and Pearly Tan delivered in the second mixed doubles and women’s three on three matches to send the tie down to the wire with overall score 5-5.
The two captains of both teams, Lee Zii Jia and Soh Wooi Yik were the focus in the men’s three on three match, where Soh Wooi Yik, Chia Wei Jie, and Tee Kai Wun ultimately walked away victorious by beating Lee Zii Jia, Goh Sze Fei, Low Han Yee 15-13, 11-15, 11-10, thus helping Avengers to claim the Mixed Team Championships title.
“We were aiming to win in the men’s doubles and singles but we lost in the men’s singles and we did not expect we would have to fight until the men’s three on three match,” said Soh.
“Congratulations to all my teammates because we always try to identify and to improve our weaknesses,” added Soh.
Despite losing, Lee Zii Jia was proud of his teammates’ performance throughout the BAM Mixed Team Championships which started on Monday.
“Our team spirit was good and all the players were serious and gave their best,” said Lee.
“Despite losing but I am happy to see the young players had a chance to gain experience from their seniors and gave their full support until the last match,” added Lee.
In another tie, Transformers edged past Dominators 7-4 to finish third overall at the championships.
