Written By: Malcolm Rhys Lim Edited By: Valerie Chua & Jolene Wong Photographs By: Eusoffworks
A change of scenery took place today with our Badminton girls playing in the unfamiliar environment of Prince George’s Park Multi-Purpose Hall. However, the smaller hall size and lower ceilings did not deter them as they continued to play their hearts out.
In the second match of their season, the female team was up against KE7 while the male team was up against a surprisingly strong Sheares team.
Badminton (F) line-up:
1st singles: Jia En
1st doubles: YuLing Elizabeth
2nd singles: Shimin
2nd doubles: Joanna and Janice
3rd singles: Elis
In what would prove to be the most intense match of the day, Jia En took on KE7s best player. The first set started off on a good note for Jia En as she hit a drop shot her opponent had no chance of returning. From then on, however, things were tight as both players looked evenly matched. With the score tied at 5 all, a combination of mistakes by the KE7 player and a few smashes by Jia En saw her take a 5-point lead. From then on, she never looked back and continued to widen the lead, eventually taking the first set 21-13.
The second set seemed to be a reverse of the first, with the same even fight emerging in the early few points. However, this time it was Jia En’s opponent who seemed to find her rhythm earlier than her. Although Jia En went into the interval with only a 2-point deficit at 9-11, her opponent somehow managed to gain a large lead after a few mistakes from Jia En. Maybe it was just me, but Jia En seemed to be conserving her energy to go BANKAI mode in the third set. With Jia En meditating, her opponent managed to sneakily win the second set 21-12.
It took Jia En a while to focus her inner chi in the third set as her opponent took an early lead. However, channelling her chi proved to be the correct tactic as she came roaring back to take and 11-9 lead going into the interval. Captain Shaun from the male team tried to give his trademark tactics talk but Jia En was listening to none of it. What had she to fear in her BANKAI mode? Nothing at all. Smash after smash she rained down on her opponent. With the score at 18-13, her opponent knew the game was up and Jia En finally took the set 21-13.
Final score: 21-13, 12-21, 21-13
Eusoff 1- 0 KE7
Next up for Eusoff was Elizabeth and her doubles partner Yu Ling. This match proved to be a rather one-sided affair. A notable point in the match was when Elizabeth clearly saw the shuttle was going out but decided to hit it back to her opponents. What an outstanding show of sportsmanship there by Elizabeth. Either that or she was tired after serving the past 14 points in a row. Shag cannot think uh? However, her charity/tiredness did not appear to be appreciated by her opponents as they promptly smashed the shuttle into Yu Ling for what would turn out to be their only point in the set.
The second set saw Eli and Yu Ling continuing to lob over the shuttle to their opponents. What a show of sportsmanship by both Eli and Yu Ling. Their opponents managed to capitalize on a few short lobs and scored 3 points.
Final score: 21-1, 21-3
Eusoff 2 – 0 KE7
The second singles match saw Shi Min up against a rather evenly skilled opponent from KE7. Strength proved to be a decisive factor in this matchup as Shi Min out-muscled her opponent, hitting far lobs followed by drop shots and finishing her opponent off with heavy smashes. Her opponent managed to touch the smashes a few times, but it seemed as if the shuttle was passing through the racket, such was the strength of Shi Min. Going into the interval, the first set was still rather close at 11-9 to Shi Min. Captain Shaun’s tactic talk proved instrumental as he instructed Shi Min to continue with her heavy smashes. Heavy smash, rinse and repeat and before we knew it, Shi Min had won the set 21-13.
By the second set, Shi Min’s opponent had seen through her tactics and was more prepared for the drop shots. However, pure strength is usually unbeatable. So it proved in this match as no matter how prepared her opponent was for the drop shot, she just could not save Shi Min’s powerful smashes. Perhaps Shi Min’s opponent would have seen the value in going to the gym after this match. With another powerful smash, Shi Gym Min won the set the 21-17.
Final score: 21-13, 21-17
Eusoff 3 – 0 KE7
With the overall match already being won by Eusoff, Team JJ comprising of Captain Joanna and Janice were up against a strong KE7 pairing. The early stages were very tight with points being traded by both teams. During one of the points, it seemed like Janice and her opponent were playing Ping Pong with each other as they continuously traded cheeky drop shots with each other. Joanna was a mere bystander in this intense Ping Pong match which Janice eventually won. Seeing as Janice was having some fun, Joanna decided to join in too, faking her opponent out by jumping really high as if too smash, only to hit another cheeky drop shot. Her opponent totally fell for the fake as she stumbled back before Joanna had even hit the shuttle. With the score 11-7 to Eusoff at the interval, Joanna and Janice pressed on with more cheeky fakes and hard smashes and took the first set 21-17.
The KE7 pair looked to take a page out of Joanna’s book as they tried a jump and drop but Joanna would not fall for it, staring defiantly at her opponent as she hit the shuttle, as if to say: “Don’t copy me”. Shaken by Joanna’s fierce demeanour, the KE7 pair did not dare to try anymore fakes. Perhaps Joanna’s fierceness was a double-edged sword as the KE7 pair seemed to wake up after that. Up 11-10 at the interval, it was still anybody’s set to win. The KE7 pair could not find a way past Janice as she parried 5 consecutive smashes in one point, and it looked as if the KE7 pair was playing against a brick wall. They seemed to learn from their mistakes however and started to hit the shuttle more towards the side-lines and started to give our doubles pairing some trouble. This tactic proved to work as they won the second set 24-22.
The third set saw both sides tiring out, but Joanna’s deadly smashes continued to be a major threat. Lady luck was also smiling in our favour as Janice hit a few shots which hit the top of the net and fell over. Leading 11-9 at the interval, Joanna and Janice looked to have the match in the bag but unfortunately, they ran out of steam. A few miscommunications cost them some vital points and the KE7 pair continued to pile pressure with some hard smashes of their own. The mistakes proved costly as KE7 took the set 21-18 and with that, the match,
Final score: 21-16, 22-24, 18-21
Eusoff 3 – 1 KE7
The final match of the day for the girls was to be played by Elis. Elis appeared to be trying to start a new fashion trend as she walked into the multi-purpose hall wearing a touch rugby singlet and armed with two bandages wrapped around her knees. Despite her comical appearance, Elis showed that her skills were no laughing matter. In the first set, casual shots from Elis saw her race out to an early 11-1 lead. During the first set, her opponent got a bit confused as to what sport she was playing as she tried to catch one on Elis’ smashes with her hands. Elis took advantage of her opponents’ confusion as she won the first set 21-4.
With Elis proving to be too good for her opponent, the only thing on this reporter’s mind during the second set was whether Elis would finish her opponent off fast enough such that he could sample PGP’s legendary Mala. Elis proved that she was indeed up to the task as her shots left her opponent running around the court after the shuttle.
Final score: 21-3, 21-4
Eusoff 4 – 1 KE7
That concludes the preliminary round for the Eusoff girls as they proceed into the semi-finals as the top of their group. Good luck for your next match girls!
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