Saving grace: Yap Roy King (right) and Cheng Su Yin in action against Indonesia’s Rehan Naufal-Lisa Ayu during the mixed doubles final at the Morodok Techo badminton hall. — FAIHAN GHANI/The Star
YAP Roy King-Cheng Su Yin, who were only brought together for this SEA Games, can hold their heads high after finishing as surprise runners-up.
In fact, the two were the only Malaysians to feature in a final.
The mixed doubles pair showed tremendous fighting spirit and pushed top seeds Rehan Naufal-Lisa Ayu hard before narrowly losing 22-20, 8-21, 16-21 in a pulsating final at the Morodok Techo badminton hall in Phnom Penh yesterday.
The pair surprised world No. 10 Rehan-Lisa with their brave play in the first game to lead 18-14.
The Indonesians fought back to level the scores at 18-18 before Roy King-Su Yin won the next two points to lead 20-18.
Rehan-Lisa refused to give up and saved the two game points but the determined Malaysians were not to be denied and snatched two points to close out the game.
Rehan-Lisa roared back in the second and put Roy King-Su Yin to the sword with their fast attacks and clever placements.
In the decider, the Indonesians were leading 11-7 but Roy King-Su Yin fought back to win six points in a row to take an 13-11 lead.
In the end though, Rehan-Lisa’s greater experience proved to be the difference.
Roy King was satisfied with his performance with Su Yin.
“We have to admit that our opponents were very strong,” he said.
“I am a bit sad that we couldn’t win but I’m still satisfied that we gave them a really good fight.”
Asked if he would be open to partnering Su Yin permanently after this, Roy King said: “Su Yin and I were only combined for the Games.
“I’ll be resuming my partnership with Valeree Siow after this but I am open to partnering anyone. It’s up to the coaches to decide.”
Roy King will next turn his attention to the Denmark Masters with Valeree and Wan Arif Junaidi (men’s doubles) from June 8-11.
Su Yin, after her first mixed doubles competition at senior level, will turn her focus to women’s doubles with her twin sister Su Hui.
Su Hui-Su Yin also won a bronze in the Games.
“It’s been a good experience playing in the mixed doubles,” said Su Yin. “I believe this silver medal will help me in my partnership with my sister as well.”
Su Yin-Su Hui will next play in the Malaysian Masters from May 23-28 at the Axiata Arena.
With the mixed pair defeat, the national shuttlers have failed to meet the one gold medal target set by the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM).
The last time that badminton had failed to win a single gold medal was at the 2011 Games in Palembang.
Last year, Chen Tang Jie-Peck Yen Wei won the solitary gold in the mixed doubles in Vietnam.
This time, the shuttlers returned with two silvers from mixed doubles and men’s team and four bronzes from men’s singles players Leong Jun Hao, Lee Shun Yang and women’s doubles pairs Low Yeen Yuan-Lee Xin Jie and Su Hui-Su Yin.
