Written by: Yusoff Kim
Edited by: Chen Kexin and Lydia Ong
Photos by: EusoffWorks
Overall: 1-4 to TH
The match started in MPSH5, where our badminton players usually train, instead of a random hall this time. Raring to go, they took the court with a fierce determination, in spirits to try and take home another W for Eusoff Hall in this year’s Epidemic Infused Inter Hall Games.
First Singles: Jierui 9-21, 17-21 (L/L)
Jie Rui started out strong, taking a 4-1 lead over his equally strong IVP opponent from Temasek Hall in the blink of an eye. Leading with strong finesse and footwork, he eventually swapped into a more comfortable smashing style. However, smashing the ball over and over caused it to go out one too many times and left him in a 4-11 lurch. Though at 8-20, he hit a strong smash in, TH came back swiftly and took their first set of the day.
Not to leave without an impression, Jie Rui came back strong in the second set, but his opponent was pulling out backhand reverse cue stroke drops which caused him to lose momentum. Angry, he smashed the ball into his opponent’s face, but that only caused the opponent to get angrier and bring his lead to 14-20 in favour of TH.
Though JieRui rallied hard towards the end, it was too late as his opponent had been on the brink of victory for the last 5 mins and eventually TH took their first W of the day 17-20. Excellent fight by the man Jie Rui, but tough luck as we move onto first doubles.
Jie Rui puts up a tough fight with his unfaltering footwork.
First Doubles: Zikai and SiZheng 19-21, 16-21 (L/L)
Going up against two more strong opponents, Zi kai and Si Zheng were looking to avenge Jie Rui in the second match of the day.
Zi Kai started it off strong with a nice shot, dropping the opposing IVP player to his knees.Taking a two point lead early on, they held even with their opponents all the way, exchanging leads throughout. Taking a 2 point lead right after the intermission, Zi Kai unfortunately served into the net which turned the tides in favour of TH as their opponents tried to claw back the lead. However, they failed to close it out and TH eventually took their first doubles set.
In the second set, an equally tight came led to a 12-13 score in favour of TH right after the intermission. Reaching the end, TH scraped by a few more points and eventually closed it out, ending 16-21. Doubly tough, Gladys was simping for a TH player and thus the men’s badminton team was left in utter shambles as their resident chiobu was not looking at them. Truely a tough tough day, they turned to second singles to help them claim victory.
Zi Kai leaps in the air to execute an immaculate smash while SiZheng stays on guard.
Second Singles:Shaun 21-19, 21-15 (W/W)
All eyes were on Shaun after two tough fought losses, for him to win a game and help break the TH momentum.
Unfortunately, Shaun fell early both literally and figuratively, giving his opponent a 2 point lead.However, his insane defence was enough to force his opponents into bad shots, helping him gain the 2 point lead in his favour instead. Though his opponent tried to close it up, he managed 2 points more and cleared the first W for Eusoff Hall.
His second win was also a tough one, with many rallies in between. But he took an earlier edge this time, closing the game out and taking our first set W for the day 21-15.
Shaun's eyes betray steely focus as he takes home the only W of the day.
Second Doubles: Charles and Huan Zhang 15-21, 19-21 (L/L)
As Kai Bin was broadcasting this, the quality of the updates suffered a heavy dip but I’ll still write something cause I love badminton!
This doubles was one of the most intense matches I’ve ever witnessed, with rallies that seemed to last hours. At the intermission, however, TH got a slight lead 12-14 and pulled away with great defence. Though Huang Zhang and Charles pressured their opponents greatly, TH got set point first and eventually closed them out.
Their second set started rougher, with Temasek taking an early 6 point lead. But our captain said no more lead and rallied hard constantly, cutting the lead by 2 at intermission. TH then retaliated hard and brought their lead back to 6 points. As HZ and CharlesLee pushed hard, they managed to pressure TH into giving them 3 more points TH then closed the hard fought game out, giving us our third L of the day.
Huan Zhang executes a powerful smash as Charles takes an intimidating stance. Even scarier, honorary pubes member Kai Bin takes over the commentary in the background.
Third Singles: Oscar 18-21, 21-13, 14-21 (L/W/L)
Mr Jam N Hop Gym and Job, Bash and BOP, lit and not Oscar stood for the final match of the day. Though he once again fell figuratively and literally in the first set, He managed to come back from a 4point deficit to take a 1 point lead. However his opponent managed to reach match point first.
In his Mojo, Oscar the grouch took up the second set in dominating fashion, putting on an absolute clinic with a 7 point head of the TH player. Keeping his opponent glued to the sides of the court, he played shot after shot well, placing them just out of reach of his TH opponent taking his second set.
With the juju on his side, Oscar returned to the court. But this would not carry on for very long as the opposing player took an early 4 point lead. Though he was playing from behind the whole set, he worked hard and held out for almost an hour for this one match. Eventually he fell and TH took the victory today,
Oscar levitates... ready to unleash his bash king power on the opponent.
First Singles: Jierui 9-21, 17-21 (L/L)
First Doubles: Zikai and Si Zheng 19-21, 16-21 (L/L)
Second Singles:Shaun 21-9, 21-15 (W/W)
Second Doubles: Charles and Huang Zhang 15-21, 19-21 (L/L)
Third Singles: Oscar 18-21, 21-13, 14-21 (L/W/L)
Though our boys played brilliant minion badminton this year, tough rallies and soon to be perfect strokes were downcast by the clouds hanging over them,.Nevertheless, they fought hard and deserve a full round of applause! I hope to see this bunch renewed, refreshed and invigorated once again next year and hopefully then we’ll get to see them in person, playing their hearts out for the supporters!
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