KUCHING: Sarawak’s Kong Chee Kiet and Barrie Chong Kwang Wei sealed the victory for the men’s team event after defeating Sabah’s Muhamad Yasrin and Syazwansyah Suriansa, 21-13, 21-17 in the third tie.
Kong, who last featured in the Borneo Games in 2011, teamed up with Barrie, Malaysia Games (SUKMA) 2022 shuttler, to secure a 3-1 lead for Sarawak in the team final.
Earlier, Sarawak’s Goh Shun Huat claimed the opening point with a 21-8, 21-17 win over Sabah’s Victor Yap Ka How.
In the second tie, Sarawak’s Ho Sin Hong and Jeremy Juan Zhen Liang fell 23-21, 13-21, 18-21 to Sabah’s Eddrall Atek Deavis and Hymms Shim in a hard-fought battle that lasted nearly an hour.
Sarawak’s Shawn Hiu then restored the advantage by defeating Muhammad Nur Azhar Zunaide 15-21, 21-11, 21-14 in another one-hour contest.
Sarawak Badminton Association (SBA) Secretary, Datuk Wan Khalik Wan Muhammad, expressed his appreciation to the players for clinching the gold medal in the event.
He described the victory as a sweet moment for SBA, noting that the host contingent not only surpassed its initial target but also created a surprise by winning gold.
“We are very happy because we did not expect this result, especially with Sabah being the favourites to win both categories.
“The Sabah men’s team is no ordinary side, but our players showed great fighting spirit.
“The new SBA management has already shown positive impact, and this success marks a new step for us, especially with a focus on preparations for next year’s Malaysia Games (SUKMA),” he said when met by reporters at Stadium Perpaduan today.
He also noted that the participation of several young players in the tournament gave them valuable exposure to high-level competition.
