Written by: Alvin Tor
Edited by: Cheng Kai Wen
Photos by: Eusoff Works
It is now 2am and I just finished eating my cold-ass dinner dabao-ed from DH and I am tired af but I must write this article, not out of obligation (of course not) but because I want to write it while the memories are still fresh as I just witnessed my first and probably one of the most amazing debut prelim games in IHG history.
After getting roasted outside the MPSH like NTUC roasted chicken, Eusoffians finally entered the MPSH and watched our dashing badminton M team warm up. Two matches were happening concurrently, one singles and one doubles. The first single game was Randall.The game was pretty even, both players never obtained more than a 2 point lead until Temasek started to pull away with the score 5-7. This was coupled with a few uncharacteristic errors by Randall bringing the score to 5-9. Randall and his opponent went back and forth bringing the score to 10-14 but you can only contain the beast for so long as Randall started to pick up some momentum bringing the score to 14-14. Randall found his rhythm and picked up 5 straight points, from 16-16 to ending the 1st set 21-16. His 2nd set was very close, both players seemed to be about even, both having 3 point leads at various points of the game then equalised by the opponent but as I said many times before, cock don't lie. Randall manages to close the set and the match 21-19. Eusoff 1:0
One of Randall's many precise smashes!
2nd match: Chong Hon Lek, Lionel and Jierui. Their 1st set was a nailbiter. No bigger than a 2 point gap until the 17th point when our double players finally managed to clinched a 2 point lead of 17-15 followed by 18-15. However, TH turned on god-mode or something and along with some fatal errors by our players, they made a 6 point to 1 comeback, ending the 1st set 19-21. This only pissed our double players, specifically Chong Hon Lek, Lionel, the handsome-est man in Singapore, the world, the high seas and the known realms of the Universe as they took a decisive lead of 5-0 at the start. Jierui and Lionel ensured they never gave this lead away, literally smashing their way through. The closest the score got was a 3 point gap at 15-12 but that was just our kings showing mercy then proceeding to brutally rekt them 6 points straight, equalising the set point to 1-1. The same story occurred in set 3 when Lionel and Jierui really warmed up and found their rhythm, clinching a 6-0 lead this time. However, TH demonstrated their fighting spirit and managed to claw back making the score 9-7 at one point. But Lionel said enough is enough as he smashed two thunderous times making the score 11-7. The game proceeded with TH being unable to answer the aggression from the doubles’ ferocious smashes, pulling ahead with the score of 17-9 and eventually ending the 3rd set and the match 20-13.
Teamwork makes the dream work.
3rd match: Oscar. Eusoff up 2:0 at this point and winning this would mean that we beat TH.
Oscar and his opponent were even until 4-4 when Oscar started to pull ahead to 7-4 but that momentum didn't last long as his opponent fought back to 9-9. Things went downhill from here as Oscar made a few errors and his opponent capitalising on it well, bringing the score to 11-14. Oscar fought hard but his errors were too fatal when his opponent was also top caliber. He eventually lost the first set 13-21. The 2nd set started and the points were even until 4-4. Oscar had some really beautiful smashes in that erupted the crowd. However, his opponent's smart plays + his errors allowed the opponent to consistently secure multiple points. His opponent played really well, leaving little to no room for Oscar to exploit and he eventually lost the 2nd set and game 10-21.
Lightning footwork by Coach Oscar.
4th match: Sizheng and Zikai. Eusoff up 2:1 at this point. TH is truly our rivals as all the games were so intense, both teams were neck and neck literally until 18-18. With TH getting some lucky shots in as the shuttlecock scraped the net and tip over to our side along with some smashes by our doubles that went a little too far out. Sizheng and Zikai battled hard to keep the point even, being intelligent with their shots and only taking aggressive smashes when it’s the most likely to secure a point but their opponent got the better of them eventually and they took the set 18-21.Unfortunately, the second set was not as close. TH secured a 0-2 lead and the boys found themselves chasing right from the start. They displayed a valiant effort but I believed TH double players this time round had 1 if not 2 IVP players and they proved to be too tough for us as they never expanded their lead eventually ending the game 14-21.
The boys going at every shuttle they can.
5th match, golden match, winner takes all. Game on. Danson got off on a slow start, conceding a 0-3 score gap but he finally warmed up and eventually went on a 4-0 run bringing the score to 5-4. This match was so intense as all the other games ended so the entire hall was fixated on their match and cheering so loudly I thought I was in NDP for a moment. Danson proved to be the stronger opponent, bringing the score to 16-13 with many of his smashes. His opponent would not go down without a fight, making many clever shots and aggressive smashes to bring the score to 16-17. The two of them were neck and neck. 17-17. 18-17. 18-18 18-19. At this crucial juncture, Temasek scraped the net with the shuttlecock giving them match point at 18-20 but Danson did not give up as he calmly played his game, along with some judgement errors by his opponent, Danson managed to equalised and eventually win the set of 22-20.
One more set and we would win TH. Danson was on fire, starting the score gap at 10-2 but fatigue started to set in and TH seemed to have the upper-hand on stamina at this point as Danson made several errors that were far too costly against an opponent like TH. TH managed to climb back and equalised the game to 11-11. What happened next was absolutely extraordinary. They were neck and neck all the way until 19-19. It didn't stop there. They went back and forth, both players playing their best despite being tired and gassed, both players making unforced errors but also making beautiful shots in, diving for every play, forcing both sides of the bench to help wipe their sweat with the mop who i now call moppy. The points ended up in this order 20-19. 20-20. 20-21. 21-21. 21-22. 22-22. 23-22. 23-23. 24-23. 24-24. 25-24. 25-25. 26-25. 26-26. 26-27. 26-28 with every point being celebrated and roared by both sides. The line judge was put to the test as Eusoffians sitting beside him were staring at him with daggers. However, TH played slightly better and managed to equalise the set.
Brilliant plays and saves by our last warrior, Danson! Really a job well done!
Final match Final set and of course what else to expect but a close match. Both sides never obtained more than a 2 point lead. The TH player pulled out a stunt where his teammate changed his racket mid-point which was deemed a foul by the referee.The two were literally neck and neck. 17-17. 18-18. Unfortunately, fatigue got the better of Danson as he was too hasty to close the game out, to his opponent’s credit he was really resilient, diving for every shuttle that Danson was smashing and Danson could not finish it off. A missed smash by Danson gave TH the final set and ultimately the match ending the set with a score of 18-21 and the match score of 2-3.
The Eusoff Badminton Male team put up an inspiring fight against TH. Every point was intense and was roared by the crowd that quite frankly cannot be compared to any other sports I have witnessed yet. They lost their 1st encounter to TH in the prelims but they are not out yet. They will hopefully have their rematch in the finals. In the meantime, please continue to support them and as Randall had already pointed out, Argentina also lost their first game.
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