National shuttler Yu made to work for title

9th May 2010
The Brunei Times

Her Royal Highness Princess Fadzillah Lubabul Bulqiah and partner Aziz PD Hj Jaafar in action in the Open Mixed Doubles final yesterday.

JASPER Yu Woon Chai powered his way to the Open Singles Under-23 title in the Yang Amat Mulia Pg Indera Mahkota Pg (Dr) Kamaluddin Al-Haj Badminton Championship Cup after beating Syamil Fazrin Wahab 21-14, 24-22 last night.

The spellbinding game at the Multipurpose Hall of the Hassanal Bolkiah Sports Complex saw national shuttler Yu in the driving seat for most of the first set but was given a run for his money in the second.

"I made a lot of mistakes, probably because I was nervous ... Too eager to win," said Yu.

"I was lucky he (Syamil) misjudged the last shot to hand me the win. I came in as the No 1 seed and so I always wanted to win.

"My ex-coach (Wu Xue Kai) came today (Saturday) especially for this and that gave me a good boost since I had not seen him in a long time," said the 21-year-old Yu, who also thanked his club Athirah Badminton Club for all their support.

In the Open Mixed Doubles, Her Royal Highness Princess Fadzillah Lubabul Bulqiah and partner Aziz PD Hj Jaafar's run to the title was stopped by Siti Marinah Mohd Salleh and Zulkifli Mohd Salleh, who won the final 23-21, 15-21, 21-19.

Though they lost the first set, they came back charging in the second and forced Siti Marinah and Zulkifli into numerous errors.

Meanwhile, in the Veterans' Doubles, Mohamad Osman and Dalen Foo triumphed 25-27, 21-18, 26-24 against the pairing of Burhan and Suhilee Hj Majid.

Zainul Mohd Yusof and Hairuddin Mohd Yusof beat Amir Hj Tudin and Ismail Hj Abdul Rahman 21-17, 21-11 to win the Open Doubles B (Intermediate) category.