Written By: Malcolm Rhys Lim Edited By: Valerie Chua & Jolene Wong Photographs By: Eusoffworks
Still aching from their exertions yesterday, our badminton girls team headed back to MPSH5 for the last match of their IHG season against none other than our friendly neighbours Temasek Hall. The girls were hoping to replicate the performance of their preliminary round game which they won 4-1.
Lineup:
1st singles: Elis
1st doubles: Joanna and Wei Lynn
2nd singles: Jia En
2nd doubles: Eli and Yu Ling
3rd Singles: Shi Min
Leading the way for Eusoff today was Elis as she looked to maintain her unbeaten IHG record so far. Having outclassed most of the opponents so far, she was brimming with confidence heading into this match. The opening few points pointed in the direction of Elis winning this match comfortably as she out-rallied her opponent easily in each point. Her match was almost a mirror image of the one she played yesterday where she hardly had to move from one spot but at the same time making her opponent run all over. Each shot was perfectly weighted, and her opponent kept thinking that Elis’ high lobs would go out, but the shuttle seemed to have a homing device as they always landed right on the line. With such precise shots, Elis took the first set easily with a score of 21-8.
In desperation, Elis’ opponent started to try to go for the quick kill by hitting shots down the line whenever she could. Commendable idea but she just could not seem to find the line, either hitting the shuttle out or too close to Elis’ which made it easy for her to return. Elis’ shots also prevented her from executing this strategy effectively as her shots were such that her opponent was always on the back foot and reacting to Elis’ shots. With Elis leading with a score of 17-8, Elis showed off her lightning quick reflexes as her opponent returned the shuttle right above her head which she somehow managed to hit away to the far court and leaving the opponent completely bamboozled. Elis’ once again maintained her unbeaten streak as she won the set 21-10.
Badminton sensation Elis sending the shuttlecock back. How glamorous she look!
Final score: 21-8, 21-10
Eusoff 1 – 0 TH
Next up for the girls was captain Joanna and her partner Wei Lynn who were set to take on a tough Th doubles pair. This was a crucial match that if Joanna and Wei Lynn could find a way to win, the title would more or less have been secured. The opening points were back and forth between both sides as neither team could find the early breakthrough. Mid way through the set however, momentum started to sway in the TH pair’s favour as both Joanna and Wei Lynn could not capitalise on some easy returns by the TH pair. With the score at 12-9 in favour of TH, Joanna and Wei Lynn started to put the pressure on TH with some heavy smashes of their own but the 3-point lead proved insurmountable as TH scraped past them to win the set 21-19.
The second set started off more roughly for Joanna and Wei Lynn as they quickly found themselves down once more. Trailing 13-9, they composed themselves and started to mount a comeback. Some solid lobs by Wei Lynn to the back court set up Joanna for her heavy smashes. This coupled with some really good drop shots got them back into the game at 15 all. Luck however proved to be on TH’s side as they got lucky in winning the final point as the shuttle hit the net and just tipped over onto Wei Lynn’s side. Tough luck loss indeed.
Senior duo putting up a great fight against carpark 15’s neighbour!
Final score: 19-21, 18-21
Eusoff 1 – 1 TH
The second doubles was to be played next for the girls as multi-talented Yu Ling had to leave early for her floorball match. Partnered up with Eli once more, the pair were looking to get a crucial point for Eusoff here. Ever smiling Eli was back to her tricks once more as she tried to beat her opponents with her smile but it did not seem to be working as they found themselves trailing 9-8. Their combination on Eli hitting drop shots and Yu Ling smashing did not seem to be effective as yesterday as their opponents were reading Eli’s drop shots better, even though they were almost right on the net. Unable to deceive their opponents, Eli and Yu Ling dropped the first set 17-21.
The TH pair one-upped their game in the second set, forcing Eli and Yu Ling into making really hard shots which they could not execute. The TH pair had a game plan of their own which was to feed one of them the smashes which neither Eli nor Yu Ling could handle. Overpowered by TH’s smashes, they lost the second set 21-10.
Multi-talented Yu Ling executing a backhand smash in full concentration!
Final score: 17-21, 10-21
Eusoff 1 – 2 TH
On the brink of losing, up stepped Jia En to try and even up the score at 2 all. Jia En too was looking to maintain her 100%-win record during IHG. Apparently Jia En and Elis were having a side bet of their own as to who would lose their unbeaten streak first. Not wanting to lose the bet, Jia En came out guns blazing, showing no mercy to her opponent as she capitalised on every short lob the opponent made with some devastating smashes. Her smashes left everyone worried for the TH opponent’s life and there were even some shouts from the bench such as “Don’t hit so hard, later she die”. Jia En however was in her own world and continued smashing to her heart’s desire. Another gigantic smash later, she had won the first set 21-9.
In the next set, Jia En tried to show off to the crowd that she had more than one skill in her arsenal, trying instead to deceive her opponent with her drop shots. After facing Jia En’s barrage of smashes in the first set, it was no wonder her TH opponent was playing far behind and this left her greatly exposed to Jia En’s superbly placed drop shots. Like Elis, Jia En too maintained her 100% IHG record as she won the second set 21-12.
Senior Jia En impressing her fans with sikkkkkkk smashes!
Final score: 21-9, 21-12
Eusoff 2 – 2 TH
With things all tied up at 2 apiece, our championship hopes and dreams all lay on one girl’s shoulders – Shi Min. With all the pressure on her, it looked to be affecting her game as she was not her usual self in the early points, making uncharacteristic unforced errors. Her opponent capitalised on this shaky start and raced out to an early lead. Shi Min improved as the set wore on, hitting some good far lobs which put her opponent under a lot of pressure. However, the early deficit proved too much to overcome as her TH opponent won the first set 21-15.
With the guys match on the other court having ended, Team Sparrows comprising of Billy, Wesley and Jerald together with the Three Monkeys (Alex, Jun Xian and Nian Ze) arrived to give Shi Min some moral support as well as to engage in psychological warfare. Their support proved pivotal as their cheering really gave Shi Min the confidence she needed to play her game. Calmer and more composed now, she started hitting well placed lobs which her opponent either could not return or thought was out but kept hitting the line. There were multiple points where her lob followed by a drop shot left her opponent sprawled on the floor as she tried to return it, allowing for an easy return by Shi Min into the empty court. The Yellow sea of roughly 20 people continued to roar her on, outshouting the TH supporters and with this boost, Shi Min started to gain momentum, taking a 5-point lead which she preserved, winning the set 21-16.
Tied at 2 games all and 1 set each, it was still anybody’s game. With both players being equally skilled, the match would be decided not by physical strength, but who had the mentality of a champion. In the end, Shi Min proved without a doubt that it was her. With such great mental fortitude, there was no way she would lose this match. Now and then after certain points that she won, she would do a celebratory fist pump. Her opponent, sensing Shi Min’s confidence, started to crack as well. Winning 11-2 at the interval, it was just a formality for her to win the set as her well placed shots had her opponent looking dejected as she could not find a way past Shi Min. Cool as a cucumber, Shi Min finished off the final point with another high lob to the side which her opponent could only manage to hit out. With that, the badminton girls officially ended the season as IHG champions.
Cool as a cucumber, Shi Min won Eusoff’s gold! Truly the MVP!
Final score: 15-21, 21-16, 21-7
Eusoff 3 – 2 TH
After a long and hard-fought season filled with ups, downs and close encounters, the badminton girls could go back with smiles on their faces, having achieved their ultimate goal of being undefeated champions!
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