Genting: Puchong United BC trashed defending champions Muar BC 11-4 in a one-sided Stage 2 of the 2016/2017 Purple League semi-final to set up a final showdown with Petaling Jaya on Sunday.
The semi-final tie between Muar and Puchong United started with the Muar team sitting out World No. 10 Lee Hyun-Il who sustained eye injury during the final of Malaysia Masters on Jan 22nd, replacing Lee with Zulfadli Zulkiffli. That move proved to be devastating for the defending champions as the ruthless World No. 9 Chou Tien Chen of Puchong United demolished Zulkiffli 11-4, 11-7, 11-8 to give his team a 3-0 lead.
World No. 1 women’s singles player Tai Tzu Ying carried Puchong United’s momentum to see off Shen Ya Ying of Muar 11-7, 11-8, 11-9 to extend Puchong’s lead to 6-0.
Puchong United’s march to victory was temporarily halted when Lee Yong Dae/Mohd Arif Ab Latif defeated Lim Khim Wah/Tan Chee Tean 3-2 in the men’s doubles.
Nevertheless, Muar was powerless to prevent Puchong United from winning the semi-final when Christinna Pedersen/Yoo Yeon Seong fought from dropping a set down to beat Chan Peng Soon/Lee Hyo Jung 11-9, 11-9, 7-11, 11-4, handling their team an unassailable 11-4 lead over Muar in the semi-final.
In second semi-final of the night, the tie between Petaling Jaya BC and BU Dragons BC went down to the wire as Petaling Jaya eventually knocked out BU Dragons to made their way to the final.
The 2016/2017 Purple League final will start at 2pm (Malaysia time) on Sunday as the champions will pocket RM500,000.
