(From left) Mendis, Chan and Ong showing off their medal haul from the two badminton masters tournament. — Courtesy photo
SEASONED veteran shuttler Chan Wan Seong has won two medals – a gold and a silver – in two consecutive international tournaments.
He won the gold medal in the Four Seasons International Badminton Championships held in Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, and a silver medal in the Ceylon Masters International Badminton Championships in Colombo, Sri Lanka, playing in the Men’s Singles 70-74 age group category in both tournaments for the first time.
In the Four Seasons tournament, which used the 30-point format, Chan battled through to make it to the Men’s Singles final of the 70-74 age group category.
He managed to edge Thailand’s Vunlop Kimsunthorn 30-29 to clinch the gold medal.
“I am not fully fit because I am recovering from knee and hamstring injuries.
“It was a real struggle playing but I am elated to emerge as the champion,” said Chan.
The Four Seasons International Badminton Championships had attracted 540 players from 11 countries, namely China, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand and United States.
Prior to the Four Seasons tournament, Chan competed in the Ceylon Masters, which saw the participation of 530 players.
Chan battled through the final but lost to a player from India.
Two other local veteran shuttlers, Jestin Mendis and John Ong Beng Cheng, also participated in the Ceylon Masters, in the 50-54 age group category.
The duo returned with one silver and two bronze medals for the country.
“We were interested in this tournament because it is one of the few senior international badminton tournaments that uses the Badminton World Federation (BWF) scoring format of 21 points, best-of-three sets, while others adopt the one-set format of 31 points.
“This gives it a real challenge to the tournament,” Chan said.
Chan also partnered Mendis in the Men’s Doubles Combined Age 120 event but the pair lost in the quarter-finals to the duo from Sri Lanka.
Meanwhile, Mendis advanced to the semi-finals in the Men’s Singles 50-54 age group category but was narrowly defeated in straight sets by an ex-national player and a BWF-qualified coach from Sri Lanka, leaving him with the bronze medal.
Mendis and Ong joined forces in the Men’s Doubles 50-54 age group category but narrowly lost in the semi-finals to a Sri Lankan pair who were ex-national players.
They took the bronze medal in that category.
“We are pleased that Chan inspired and challenged us to compete in a senior international tournament and we are thrilled to win our first medal in a tough high-level tournament,” Mendis said.
Chan said the most motivating factor was that all three of them managed to win medals for Malaysia.
“Kudos to Mendis and Ong for having the courage to take up the challenge of competing in their first international tournament, all at their own expense,” he said.
“Hopefully, we will inspire more Malaysian senior badminton players to test themselves in competing in more challenging senior international tournaments employing the BWF scoring format.”
