Gold medal favourites Indonesia and Thailand have won the men’s and women’s team finals in the badminton competition at the 32nd SEA Games in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Thursday’s (11 May) finals both appeared fairly straightforward affairs, with each team having received a bye past the quarter-finals. The Indonesian men faced Malaysia while in the women’s final Thailand, with women’s doubles world number 9s Jongkolphan Kititharakul / Rawinda Prajongjai in their side, took on Indonesia.
Indonesia were led by world number 19 Chico Aura Dwi Wardoyo, but Wardoyo dropped the opening match of the tie to Leong Jun Hao. Leong surprisingly needed just 31 minutes to win 21–16 21–13.
That set Indonesia behind, but the favourites took the next three rubbers.
First, Muhammad Shohibul Fikri / Bagas Maulana took out Beh Chun Meng / Goh Boon Zhe 21–12 22–20, before Christian Adinata eased past Lee Shun Yang 21–17 21–9.
While the second Indonesian doubles pairing of Pramudya Kusumawardana / Yeremia Rambitan were pushed all the way, they eventually saw off Chia Wenjie / Liew Xun 13–21 21–16 21–16.
Meanwhile, women’s top seeds Thailand breezed to three straight-games wins to seal gold.
Lalinrat Chaiwan opened with a 21–19 21–17 victory over Komang Dewi, before Jongkolphan and Rawinda beat Febriana Kusuma / Amalia Pratiwi 21–11 21–15.
Finally, Supanida Kaethong saw off Ester Wardoyo 21–11 21–12.
