Australia Falter to Singapore – Day 5 (Session 1): TOTAL BWF Sudirman Cup 2017

Singapore emerged on top of sub-group 2B after overcoming Australia 4-1 at the TOTAL BWF Sudirman Cup 2017 in Gold Coast today.

Singapore will next take on sub-group 2A winners Vietnam to decide the winners of Group 2 (overall 13th place).

The hosts were expected to trouble Singapore but it all unraveled for Australia early in the second game of their opening Mixed Doubles contest.

Sawan Serasinghe and Setyana Mapasa had stayed in sight of Terry Hee and Tan Wei Han, but after 11-all in the first, the Singaporeans forged ahead. The second game began nightmarishly for Serasinghe and Mapasa as they just couldn’t get a thing right. Errors flowed from their rackets and Hee/Tan ran away with 14 of 15 points to effectively shut the door on the Australians: 21-16 21-6.

Ryan Ng made it 2-0 for Singapore with a comfortable 21-16 21-14 result over Ashwant Gobinathan in their Men’s Singles.

“The shuttle is pretty slow; I’m an aggressive player so I had to play patiently today,” said Ng. “I had to make sure I didn’t rush my shots. I’ve seen him play, he’s a good player; it was about taking one point at a time. I’m looking forward to playing Vietnam; to play (Nguyen) Tien Minh will be a good experience.”

Serasinghe returned with Matthew Chau for the Men’s Doubles against Danny Bawa Chrisnanta and Terry Hee.

The Australians struggled in the beginning but finally made their presence felt with some consistent and sharp play in the second. They fought off a 15-18 deficit with four straight points, but they couldn’t capitalise on the opportunity with the game in their grasp. Chrisnanta and Terry Hee converted their second match point: 21-14 23-21.

“We didn’t get the best start, but we did manage to pull it back in the end,” said Serasinghe. “It was the minor little errors and shot choices that made the difference.”

“(In the first match) We started well, everything went perfect, but when Terry came and increased the pace a bit, we started making errors and we were unable to get ourselves back. The coach told me he would give me ten minutes to vent it out, but that I had to focus on Men’s Doubles after that.

“We definitely wanted to create an upset and make the crowd proud, and hopefully get a win against Singapore. Overall it’s been good, everyone played well, I’m fairly happy but disappointed at the same time.”

Yeo Jia Min (featured image) continued Singapore’s dominance, shutting out Wendy Chen 21-11 21-17 in Women’s Singles before Gronya Somerville and Setyana Mapasa picked up the consolation win for Australia beating Ong Ren-Ne/Crystal Wong 21-11 21-15.

Sri Lanka Win Group 3

Sri Lanka comfortably finished on top of Group 3 beating Macau 3-0, ensuring they finished overall 21st.

Buwenaka Goonathileka and Kavindi Ishandika Sirimannage gave Sri Lanka the lead in Mixed Doubles, easing past Iek U Leong/Gong Xue Xin 21-10 21-4.

Niluka Karunaratne was challenged in the first game of Men’s Singles by Pui Pang Fong, but the challenge fell apart in the second, 21-17 21-6.

Thilini Pramodika Hendahewa needed just 21 minutes to blow away Ng Weng Chi, 21-9 21-7.

“Group 3 was quite easy for us,” said Karunaratne, who is back in Sri Lanka after a long stint in the German league. “It would’ve been nice to play Group 2. But to go back as winners of Group 3 feels good.

“There’s a bunch of our players who can do well internationally… there are plans for a comprehensive training programme that will hopefully start in a few months. Badminton became popular in Sri Lanka after the London Olympics. It’s the most popular game in Sri Lanka after cricket and there are a lot of talented players who need the experience of top level badminton. We have to follow India’s example. India is at a different level now, they’re doing great. If we can learn from them and develop, it will be good for all of us.”

In other Group 3 ties to decide placings, Fiji beat Guam 3-1 while Slovakia got the better of New Caledonia 3-0. Slovakia finished third in the group (overall 23rd) while Fiji finished fifth, ahead of Guam and New Caledonia.

Click here for results

Sudirman Cup News

Korea Light Up Gold Coast

Korea Light Up Gold Coast

29 May 2017
‘Seoul’ Satisfying! – Final: TOTAL BWF Sudirman Cup 2017

‘Seoul’ Satisfying! – Final: TOTAL BWF Sudirman Cup 2017

28 May 2017
Steely Survival – Day 7 (Session 2): TOTAL BWF Sudirman Cup 2017

Steely Survival – Day 7 (Session 2): TOTAL BWF Sudirman Cup 2017

28 May 2017
Korea Storm into Final – Day 7 (Session 1): TOTAL BWF Sudirman Cup 2017

Korea Storm into Final – Day 7 (Session 1): TOTAL BWF Sudirman...

27 May 2017
‘Vietnam Vet’ Shines – Day 6 (Session 2): TOTAL BWF Sudirman Cup 2017

‘Vietnam Vet’ Shines – Day 6 (Session 2): TOTAL BWF Sudirman Cup...

26 May 2017
China, Japan to Face Off – Day 6 (Session 1): TOTAL BWF Sudirman Cup 2017

China, Japan to Face Off – Day 6 (Session 1): TOTAL BWF...

26 May 2017
Triumphant ‘Thai-tans’! – Day 5 (Session 2): TOTAL BWF Sudirman Cup 2017

Triumphant ‘Thai-tans’! – Day 5 (Session 2): TOTAL BWF Sudirman Cup 2017

25 May 2017
Three Women Elected to Athletes’ Commission

Three Women Elected to Athletes’ Commission

25 May 2017
Danes Dig Deep – Day 4 (Session 2): TOTAL BWF Sudirman Cup 2017

Danes Dig Deep – Day 4 (Session 2): TOTAL BWF Sudirman Cup...

24 May 2017
Chinese Taipei Down Korea – Day 4 (Session 1): TOTAL BWF Sudirman Cup 2017

Chinese Taipei Down Korea – Day 4 (Session 1): TOTAL BWF Sudirman...

24 May 2017
Irrepressible India! – Day 3 (Session 2): TOTAL BWF Sudirman Cup 2017

Irrepressible India! – Day 3 (Session 2): TOTAL BWF Sudirman Cup 2017

23 May 2017
Easy for Malaysia, Scotland – Day 3 (Session 1): TOTAL BWF Sudirman Cup 2017

Easy for Malaysia, Scotland – Day 3 (Session 1): TOTAL BWF Sudirman...

23 May 2017
Thailand Survive – Day 2 (Session 2): TOTAL BWF Sudirman Cup 2017

Thailand Survive – Day 2 (Session 2): TOTAL BWF Sudirman Cup 2017

22 May 2017
Denmark Overcome India – Day 2 (Session 1): TOTAL BWF Sudirman Cup 2017

Denmark Overcome India – Day 2 (Session 1): TOTAL BWF Sudirman Cup...

22 May 2017
Big Guns Prevail – Day 1 (Session 2): TOTAL BWF Sudirman Cup 2017

Big Guns Prevail – Day 1 (Session 2): TOTAL BWF Sudirman Cup...

21 May 2017
Canada Bounce Back – Day 1 (Session 1): TOTAL BWF Sudirman Cup 2017

Canada Bounce Back – Day 1 (Session 1): TOTAL BWF Sudirman Cup...

21 May 2017
Fireworks Begin Today!

Fireworks Begin Today!

21 May 2017
New Generals Cautious on Battle Eve

New Generals Cautious on Battle Eve

19 May 2017
BWF All Set to Go!

BWF All Set to Go!

18 May 2017
Sri Lanka Look Formidable in Group 3

Sri Lanka Look Formidable in Group 3

18 May 2017
Hosts Australia Have Edge in Group 2

Hosts Australia Have Edge in Group 2

18 May 2017
Korea Head in With Young Blood – TOTAL BWF Sudirman Cup 2017

Korea Head in With Young Blood – TOTAL BWF Sudirman Cup 2017

12 May 2017
Nine Running for BWF Athletes’ Commission

Nine Running for BWF Athletes’ Commission

11 April 2017
England Withdraws; Germany Promoted

England Withdraws; Germany Promoted

4 April 2017
China Features Early: TOTAL BWF Sudirman Cup 2017

China Features Early: TOTAL BWF Sudirman Cup 2017

29 March 2017
Gold Coast Toasts Sudirman Cup Draw

Gold Coast Toasts Sudirman Cup Draw

20 March 2017
Sudirman Cup Battle Royal Beckons

Sudirman Cup Battle Royal Beckons

17 March 2017
China Get Top Billing – TOTAL BWF Sudirman Cup 2017

China Get Top Billing – TOTAL BWF Sudirman Cup 2017

6 March 2017
Sudirman Cup Goes South

Sudirman Cup Goes South

8 February 2017
32 Teams ‘Going Gold’

32 Teams ‘Going Gold’

2 February 2017
Gold Coast Beckons!

Gold Coast Beckons!

25 October 2016
Gold Coast Wins Sudirman Cup 2017

Gold Coast Wins Sudirman Cup 2017

13 November 2014
PARTNERS