PHNOM PENH: The national men’s badminton squad stormed into the semifinals of the team event after beating Vietnam 3-1 in the 2023 SEA Games here today.
World number 61 player Leong Jun Hao drew first blood for Malaysia when he thumped Nguyen Hai Dang 21-14, 21-16 in the quarterfinal tie at the Morodok Techo National Stadium’s Badminton Hall.
Beh Chun Meng-Goh Boon Zhe then extended Malaysia’s lead with a 21-19, 21-14 win over Vietnam’s Nguyen Dinh Hoang-Tran Dinh Manh despite facing stiff resistance in the first game.
However, Lee Shun Yang, ranked 93rd in the world, failed to carry the winning momentum as he went down to world number 163 player Le Duc Phat 13-21, 21-16, 7-21 in the second singles.
National second doubles pair Chia Weijie-Liew Xun then stepped up to the plate to overcome Xun Nguyen Xuan Hung-Pham Van Hai 21-14, 21-18 to take Malaysia to the semifinals tomorrow.