Phnom Penh: Malaysia and Indonesia will meet in the 2023 SEA Games badminton men’s team final after overcoming Thailand and Singapore respectively in the semi-finals.
Malaysia had to come through the decisive third men’s singles match, with the heroic performance from Jacky Kok Jing Hong to send Malaysia into the final.
Jacky Kok Jing Hong vs. Saran Jamsri in the third men’s singles match between Malaysian and Thailand:
Facing the defending champions Thailand in the men’s team semi-finals, Malaysia got off to a strong start when the first men’s singles Leong Jun Hao was made to work hard by Sitthikom Tammasin before winning a three-set battle 21-13, 18-21, 21-10 to contribute the first point to Malaysia.
The men’s doubles pair of Goh Boon Zhe/Rayner Beh Chun Meng also was pushed to the rubber game before winning the second point for Malaysia by defeating the pairing of Peeratchai Sukphun/Pakkapon Teeraratsakul 21-16, 14-21, 21-15.
However, the Malaysian team couldn’t complete the tie with a 3-0 sweep, instead, Thailand drew level at 2-2 when Ong Ken Yon lost 17-21, 15-21 to Panitchaphon Teeraratsakul in the second men’s singles, and Thai men’s pair – Ruttanapak Oupthong/Nanthakarn Yordphaisong managed to overcome the challenge of Chia Weijie/Liew Xun 21-16, 21-14 to send the tie down to the wire.
In the third men’s singles match, 21-year-old Jacky Kok Jing Hong stayed calm to outlast Saran Jamsri 21-12, 21-13 to lift Malaysia into the men’s team final.
“If I say there’s no pressure, that is impossible. But I know what I need to do and play my best on the court,” said Kok.
“When playing against Indonesia tomorrow, we are the underdogs and will give them some strong fights,” added Kok.
For the record, Malaysia’s men’s team lost to Thailand 3-0 in the same event at the Vietnam SEA Games last year.
Meanwhile, in another men’s team semi-final, the gold medal favorites Indonesia beat Singapore 3–1 to advance to the final.
In the women’s team final, Thailand and Indonesia will go head-to-head to battle for the gold medal.
