DESPITE not winning medals yesterday, Malaysia can expect to add at least three more silvers to its cache in the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games to meet their target of 27 medals. 

The Hangzhou Olympic Games Center squash court was once again in the spotlight when the national team made it to the finals in three categories, earning the chance to add to their gold collection.

The Mohammad Syafiq Mohd Kamal-Aifa Azman pair have the chance to make history as the first mixed doubles champions in the Asian Games, but face a tough task as they will meet top seeds, Dipika Pallikal-Harinder Pal Singh Sandhu of India in the final today.

In the women’s singles event, S. Sivasangari is scheduled to face Hong Kong’s Chan Sin Yuk.

Also in the final is men’s singles ace Ng Eain Yow, who is the top seed of the tournament. He will meet Indian player Saurav Ghosal.
 
Despite a series of controversies off court, men’s singles player Lee Zii Jia advanced to the quarter-finals after defeating Thailand’s world champion Kunlavut Vitidsan in the third round at the Binjiang Gymnasium.

Lee, who ranks 16th in the world, snagged a dramatic 10-21, 21-19, 21-6 victory before an enthusiastic crowd.

The national badminton camp also confirmed a place in the quarter-finals of the men’s singles event through Ng Tze Yong while mixed doubles Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei, women’s doubles Pearly Tan-M.Thinaah and doubles Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik also qualified for the quarter-finals.

At the Fuyang Yinhu Sports Center, archery duo Mohd Juwaidi Mazuki-Fatin Nurfatehah Mat Salleh lost to Indian pair Ojas Pravin Deotale-Jyothi Surekha Vennam in the compound mixed team quarter-finals. Hope now rests on the compound men’s team trio to deliver today’s medal.

Young diver Bertrand Rhodict Lises continued to record impressive achievements in his first appearance at the Asian Games when he finished the men’s 10m platform final in fourth position after collecting a total of 434.85 points.

Today, the karate camp will start the preliminary round challenge. 

Malaysia are in 16th position after winning three gold, four silver and 16 bronze medals. China continue to top the medal tally with a collection of 171-94-51, followed by Japan (37-51-59) and South Korea (33-45-70). – Bernama, October 5, 2023.