Hajiman, Salmiah break SCB hearts
By James Kon

The two teams before the meet. - Photo: James Kon

HSBC's mixed doubles pair of Hajiman and Salmiah broke the hearts of the Standard Chartered Bank team when they bagged the winning point to emerge victorious 9-8 in the QAF Corporate Badminton League at the IBB Building on Friday night.

It was the first win for HSBC in the league but the victory came after some nail-biting encounters with both teams evenly matched in both fitness and skills.

HSBC began the night with a win from Amal in the men's singles where he beat Vincent Lim 15-4,15-9 to take the lead but SCB levelled the score through Pengiran Yamin after beating Huzaimi 15-2,15-2.

The see-saw battle continued in the ladies singles where HSBC again took the lead through Siti Salmiah when she beat Hajah Normah Dato Mustafa 11-3, 11-0 and SCB quickly drew level with a powerful performance from Chia Suk Ling whipping Aliah 11-0,11-0.

With the tie at 2-2, HSBC were given an easy win in the men's doubles when Sim See Hau /Ong Chee Siang were awarded a walkover win in the first game.

However, the lead was shortlived as SCB took the next game when Pg Yamin/Haji Redawan edged Andy/Jalal 12,15,15-4,15-12.

In the third match of the men's doubles, HSBC led again when Amal/Asmalee defeated Andy Ang/Rithwan Salleh 15-11,15-13 only to see SCB levelled again through Vincent Lim/Stephen Wong after beating Albert/Sumadi 15-9,15-8.

In the last men's doubles game, HSBC's Hajiman/Hj Mahmud outclassed Lim Han Ping/Kam Boon Hau 15-5, 15-4 to take a 5-4 lead.

HSBC increased their lead to 7-4 when they won the first two games in the ladies doubles.

Man Peng/Mimi beat Mary Yu/Helen Yap 15-0, 15-3 and Siti Salmiah/Izan defeated Hjh Suraya Hj Manggong/Hjh Normah Dato Mustafa 15-9, 17-14.

SCB fought back to reduce the deficit to 7-6 by taking the next two ladies doubles games.

Tsang Suen Yee/Chia Suk Ling outclassed Jocelane/Soon Hui 15-1, 15-1 and Foo Chek Lim/Chong Siew Chin edged Mary/Justina.

HSBC took another point in the first mixed doubles through Andy/Man Peng when they beat Wee Eng/Stephen Wong 15-10, 15-9 to lead 8-6.

But the never-say-die SCB shuttlers stormed back to level the score 8-8 by winning the next two games.

Chia Suk Ling/Khristian beat Md Khairul/Rena 17-15, 15-7 and Foo Chek Lim/Pg Yamin defeated Amal/Mimi 15-4, 15-7.

With the score at 8-8, all eyes were now on the last mixed doubles game. HSBC's Hajiman/Salmiah rose to the occasion to bag the winning point when they edged Lily Ng/Ang Kai Boon 15-2, 12-15, 15-10.

The win will no doubt boost the morale of the HSBC team when they take on Baiduri Bank in their next match on July 21 while SCB still without a win will be squaring off against DSTCom on July 23.

 -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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