A 'Heppy' day for Wong

The Brunei Times


BERYNO WONG could not have asked for a better first trip to Brunei.

The Sabah player won the open singles and mixed doubles categories of yesterday's Yonex Brunei Open, making it an outing to remember after pocketing $1,600 for his efforts at the Indoor Stadium of the Hassanal Bolkiah National Sports Complex in Berakas.

He beat Admiral Heppy 21-14, 21-13 in the open singles to take home $1,200 and then partnered Amelia Alicia to a 21-12, 21-8 result against Sandy and Rahman to split $800.

"This is my first tournament in Brunei so I am happy I was able to win the tournament," said Wong.

"I prepared hard for this event and my focus now will be on my next international tournament, the German Open Super Series in March," added the Kota Kinabalu-native.

An ex-Malaysian national team shuttler, Wong said that he stopped after a two-year injury forced him out of the game.

He had no intentions to rejoin the team and said he preferred to focus on his club career at AST.

The biggest badminton club in Sabah, the AST Badminton Club trains players for State, national and Badminton World Federation tournaments.

Defeated semi-finalists, Liew Wah Sam and Cornelius, were awarded joint-third in the open singles while Heru and Nikmah and Dodi and Azura were awarded joint-third in the mixed doubles.

Vong Xiang Wei and Lester Fong took home the open doubles title after beating Liew Wah Sam and Ting Sing Kiat 21-12, 21-8.

The pairings of Ermadena Hj Talip and Amran Kambar and brothers Huzaimi and Zulkifli Hj Salleh were both awarded bronze.

Victor Yuan and Gabriel Wong beat Lau Yi Ping and Aaron Hii Lu 21-17, 21-13 to capture the junior doubles (Under-17) title.

The duos of Abdul Qawi and Sheril and Lee Zia Hern and Sim Chia were both awarded joint-third.

Mohammad and Borhan beat Asri and Suhailee 21-13, 16-21, 21-19 to be crowned champions of the veteran doubles category.

The team pairings of Pg Ismail/Lee Choy and Ng Hui/Robert, meanwhile, finished joint-third in the category.