MALAYSIA are assured of at least eight badminton bronze medals in the singles and doubles events at the Sea Games.
Yesterday, all of Malaysia’s eight representatives in the quarter-finals advanced.
Malaysian hopes in the men’s singles will be spearheaded by Lee Zii Jia after he downed Myanmar’s Phone Pyae Naing 21-14, 21-19.
Zii Jia will next face Thailand’s fourth seed Sitthikom Thammasin for a spot in the final today.
On paper, second seed Zii Jia should not have any problems advancing, having won all three prior encounters between the two.
National coach Hendrawan, however, warned against complacency, especially with the tricky playing conditions at the Muntinlupa Sports Complex.
‘I believe it will be 50-50 (between Zii Jia and Sitthikom) because it is not easy to play on the courts here due to the draught, which has troubled many players here,’ said Hendrawan.
‘Zii Jia has to be ready for anything and must maintain his focus. Hopefully, he will be able to play to the best of his abilities.’
S. Kisona also shone in the women’s singles, dumping Indonesian third seed Gregoria Mariska Tunjung 19-21, 21-12, 21-19 to set up a semi-final encounter with Thailand’s second seed Nitchaon Jindapol today.
The others who advanced to the semi-finals were men’s doubles Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik and Teo Ee Yi-Ong Yew Sin, women’s doubles Vivian Hoo-Yap Cheng Wen and Chow Mei Kuan-Lee Meng Yean as well as mixed doubles Tan Kian Meng-Lai Jing and Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie.