STILL A WORK IN PROGRESS

Badminton coaches say more needs to be done after Singapore win team bronzes

- David Lee

BANGKOK Shoulders slumped and at a loss for words, Singapore's world No. 21 Jason Teh cut a deflated figure after suffering the lowest single-game loss of his badminton career a 21-2, 21-13 defeat by Indonesia's 48th-ranked Zaki Ubaidillah in the SEA Games men's team semi-finals on Dec 8.

Still visibly agitated despite composing himself at the Thammasat University mixed zone, he told The Straits Times: "I'm speechless. I just found it super, super tough to get even one point from him.

"I prepared myself for a tough game, but I don't know what happened in the first game.

"I tried to forget about this in the second game, but I just couldn't push through his spirit and momentum.

"It felt like he was unbreakable and I will need to go back and reflect on this with my coach and come back stronger in the men's singles event."

As Team Singapore collected their first medals of these Games with two joint-bronzes after the women's and men's badminton teams lost their semi-finals against defending champions, Teh's unexpected defeat is a reminder to the Singapore Badminton Association that much work is needed to close the gap on its neighbours and make a breakthrough.

While she was all praise for the women's team's energy and fighting spirit, national singles head coach Kim Ji-hyun said she was not satisfied with the men's results as they had aimed to beat Indonesia and reach the final.

She said: "What we expected did not happen. We are strong in the men's singles, but Jason's opponent played very well today.