Kuala Lumpur: In his much hyped appearance at the 2018/2019 Purple League, Kento Momota delivered a badminton masterclass to knock Soong Joo Ven 11-8, 11-6, 11-6 in the tie between Ampang Jaya and Kepong on Monday.
The World No. 1 produced some at times breathtaking shot-making in sweeping past Soong and gave Ampang Jaya an 11-9 unassailable lead, sealing his team’s second victory of the season.
Earlier, Ampang’s Lee Zii Jia came back from behind to overcome Lim Chi Wing 9-11, 7-11, 11-4, 11-6, 5-4, giving his team a slight advantage of 3-2 after the second men’s singles match.
World Junior champion Goh Jin Wei then produced a dominant display to defeat Lin Jhih Yun in 3-1 and handed Ampang Jaya a 6-3 lead.
Kepong managed to temporarily reverse their fortune with a 9-8 lead after winning the men’s doubles and mixed doubles matches, before Momota swept aside Soong to clinch the tie in Ampang Jaya’s favor.
Meanwhile, in a different tie, Serdang Badminton Club relied on their mixed doubles and first men’s singles matches to secure themselves a 12-11 triumph over Tebrau City Badminton Club.
