BANGKOK: Malaysia’s women’s singles player, Wong Ling Ching, opened her 2025 SEA Games individual campaign on a bright note after defeating Indonesia’s Dhinda Amartya Pratiwi 21-11, 21-17 at Thammasat University today.
In the opening game, the young Sarawakian displayed a composed and confident performance, taking control from the start and forcing Dhinda into repeated errors en route to a comfortable 21-11 win.
The second game saw the Indonesian regain her rhythm and keep pace with Wong, trading points to stay level in the early stages.
However, the 22-year-old shuttler from Miri steadied herself, cut down her unforced errors, and pulled away in the closing stages to seal the match 21-17.
After the match, Wong described the win as an encouraging start for both herself and the national squad.
“The match was very positive. Women’s singles haven’t won a medal for quite some time. So, I hope to give my best in the upcoming rounds,” she said.
She added that she was not setting specific medal targets, choosing instead to remain fully focused on performance.
“I just hope I can be at my best in every match,” she said.
Wong acknowledged that carrying the responsibility of a singles player comes with its own challenges.
“Playing singles is not easy. First, you have to work really hard. Second, in every tournament and every match, you need to enjoy the game to reduce pressure.
“My next opponent is strong. So, I hope I can play better tomorrow compared to our last meeting,” she added.
The victory serves as a timely morale boost for the national badminton camp as they continue their pursuit of podium finishes in the individual events.
Meanwhile, another Malaysian women’s singles shuttler, Karuppathevan Letshanaa, fell short in her opening match, losing 18-21, 13-21 to Indonesia’s Puteri Kusuma Wardani on the same court.
