Joy Lai and Alice Wu.

Dear readers

Joy and Wu will be matching their skills against an Indo pair named Yulfira and Dianita. Joy and Wu are the most seasoned players in the Aus contingent. The score is now 11/8 in Indo's favour. Aus is keeping up and returning the strong Indo smashes.

Aus is now trailing at 15/10 and they need to catch up. They get to 12/19 but are in danger. The Indo pair gets to set point and win with a smash.

They start the 2nd set and Aus starts with the point.  However they trail at 11/4 as the Indo pair is strong. I am trying to video the players and trying to catch them in a winning long rally. I could not get a good video as the girls are losing. They are staring at match point and their return hits the net for Indo to win comfortably at 21/10.  That's the end of the tournament for Joy and I am sure she has learned lots here.  Her supportive parents are here to comfort her in her loss.

Justin and HD's singles

Dear readers

Justin is playing a Thai player named Korarit L. He is trailing at 3/6.  He is wearing a red T shirt as his only Australian T shirt is still wet. I think there is a difference in play when you are wearing a T shirt representing your country.  Thai gets to 11/5.

The Thai player is attacking Justin's backhand. He now trails 13/6. He loses another point after a long rally. The Thai player gets to 17/7 with a high jump smash. Justin now trails by 19/7 and can find no answer to the Thai player's onslaught. Thai reaches set point. Justin gets back 1 point and then smashes out to lose the set.

Can Justin find the courage from yesterday to get a 3 rd set?

In the 2nd set he slides down to 8 love and then 10 love before reaching 11 without a point.  He gets a point after Thai makes a mistake at the net.

None of Justin's shots are getting in. He is now down 13/1. This is the real level of international badminton in the junior division.  I am reminded of my chats with Yogendra from NVBA in Malaysia. He informs me that all the players from Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and Philippines are hand picked for training at the club or country's expense. The parents are paid for their children to be taken away and the players train every day.

Thai gets to 19/4 and then match point after a strong smash. Justin loses the match at 20/4. He must be disappointed but his parents will know that he has done his best/



HD is playing a Malaysian Hoo PR. They look evenly matched. The score is 3 all.

Now at 5 all. HD is wearing his NSW T shirt. Must be because he feels it is his lucky T shirt as he won the Aus Under 15 s in that T shirt.  Now tied at 9 all.  HD gets to 11 first.

The Malaysia player has no coach and is wearing a Kuala Lumpur shirt. That means he is not in the official Malaysian team according to Yogendra from NVBA. Which means the player paid for their own trip to Singapore just like the Australian players. What a difference between full sponsorship and nil sponsorship.

I am still trying to understand how the different countries fund their players.

HD gets to 20/14 and wins the set.


He is leading the 2nd set at 3/2.

He trails for the first time at 4/3. He gets back the lead at 5/4 but makes a few errors to trail at 7/9.

Hoo gets to 11 first.

Can HD get back the lead?  Hoo wins the 2nd set.

HD leads the 3rd at 2/1.  Hoo makes a few errors to give HD a 2 pt lead.  HD leads at 8/4.  After a long rally Hoo hits the net.  HD needs to stay focused.  HD retains a 3 pt lead.  HD gets to 11 first. Hoo gets back a point to 8/12 and then smashes to another point to reduce the deficit.  Hoo is catching up but HD has game point 18. Hoo gets to 19.


Hoo gets to deuce but hits the shutter out for  the advantage to HD. HD hits out after a short rally. They are at deuce again.  Hoo returns a smash to the back which is in but HD thinks is out . HD finally wins the the 3rd set. He has done well for Australia while wearing his NSW shirt. Good luck to his next round.

Huai Dong, Alice Wu and Grace Ngiam's games

Dear readers


We were all looking at Janet do a kangaroo hop around the badminton hall. That was her punishment for losing all the training round robin games. She is such a trooper. She has great manners and always says thank you and hello. Unfortunately not all the other players are that well mannered.

Anyway, the team then goes to see Huai Dong play his game. He just won the first set against a Malaysian.

The Malaysian player moves well but is making lots of errors.

HD leads at 4/2.  He gets to 11 first. the Malaysian boy has no coach while Nick and Glenn goes to speak to HD.

 HD should be able to finish the 2nd set easily. HD finishes the game after a cross drop by the  Malaysian player which HD anticipates and kills.

That was another easy game for HD.

The team return to the hotel to prepare for the evening games. I decide to go for dinner with Touk Krei and Annie.

I just came back to the courts. Alice has just finished her game. She lost  both sets 21/13 and 21/14. Unfortunately I missed the game.


It is Grace Ngiam next.

She is playing Haryanti from Indonesia. At least Grace is bigger than her opponent. That is always an advantage.

Grace gets the first point. Some of these girls have real strong smashes.

Grace is trailing  at 6/9. Indo gets to 11 first. She recovers to get  8/12 and then wins another point. She cuts the deficit to 3 pts. She reaches 12/14 and then gets another pt.  Unfortunately her next smash goes out.

Indo smashes strongly to get back a 2 pt lead.

Grace fights back to narrow the lead to 1 pt. It is now 16/17. She draws at 17 and then takes the lead. She then serves out to draw at 18. Indo gets the lead again. grace draws again at 19 all. She gets to game point.  She retrieves a good drop but then smashes into the net. It is now 21 all.

Indo takes the lead again.  Grace draws with a cross drop. She then serves out. She returns a smash and it goes out to give Indo the set. What a waste.

She needs to find her inner strength for the next set.

She trails at 3/1 for the 2nd set. She is losing concentration at 7/3. She serves out to lose a pt and then does a delicate drop to the net to retrieve the point. It is now 10/6 to Indo. Grace needs to step up.

She gets 2 points in a row attacking the backhand of Indo's player. Indo still gets to 11 first.

Grace is now trailing at 16/9.  It is now 17/11 .  Indo gets to 19/11.  Grace does not give up.   She gets back 1 pt.  and another. Yet another pt goes to Grace to reduce the gap. She is fighting back strongly. She is at 17/20 and still fighting.  She gets to 18 staring Indo down. She gets another pt and Aus supporters are shouting. She then hits the shuttle out to give Indo the game. She almost had it. her parents should be proud of her.

Massive groupers waiting for the dinner table

After the last game, I met up with Touk Krei and Annie for dinner. I took a walk in Geylang and took these interesting pictures.

A peaceful temple amidst the hustle and bustle of Geylang

An old mosque which shows how multicultural Geylang is.

Durian and other fruits on sale

Jazton's and Justin's singles

Dear readers

Jaz is playing his singles against Wilfred Ng, a Singaporean. I think he is a club player and not in the Singapore team. They are going neck to neck at 8/6. Jaz trails at 7/9. Singapore reaches 11 first at 11/7. Most of the points were given away by Jaz hitting out.

He is now trailing at 8/13.  Jaz has to do better as he is trailing at 9/17. He gets back 2 pts to get 13/18 and then 14/18. He gets another point to get to 15/18. He cuts the deficit to 3 pts. He is now at 17/19. He gets to 18/19.  He loses the first set at 18/21.

I think Jaz is finally warming up.  Hopefully he plays a better 2nd set. They are at 5 all. Singapore gets to 7/5.  He keeps close at 7/8 and then draws.  He finally takes the lead. Jaz gets to 11/9 first.

Singapore draws at 12 all.

Singapore takes the lead again.They are drawn at 14 all again. Now at 15 all again.  Singapore leads again.  Jaz gets to 18/19. And then draws. Singapore gets to match point and then hits a winner. Jaz will be disappointed. However he still has his doubles to look forward to.

Justin is playing a Malaysian named Kiraranraj. They go head to head and point for point. Unfortunately Justin could not catch up enough and lost the first set at 21/19.

He is going for the 2nd set with more determination.

He comes back stronger and starts with 5 love. He gives Malaysia a point after hitting out.  Justin retains the lead at 8/4.  He remains the lead at 10/6.  He should be able to get a 3rd set if he retains the lead.  Justin gets to 11 first.

Malaysia gets to 8/11 after a smash from Justin goes out.

After a long rally, Justin gets to 13/9.

He gets lucky after leaving the court open and the Malaysian player hits out.

The score is at 12/17. He needs to close the set. He hits 2 shots out letting Malaysia get closer.

Malaysia has now caught up to 16/17.

He gets to 19/17. Malaysia gets to 18/19.  Justin gets to set point.  He wins the set and gets a rubber.

Justin gets the early lead to 3/1. The score is now 4 all.  Malaysia takes the lead at 5/4. Justin now trails 5/8.

Justin looks like he is getting tired. He is making mistakes and giving the Malaysian player a bigger lead. He gets to 7/10.  Malaysia gets to 11/8. The heat must be getting to Justin. He gets to 9/13.
he gets 2 points in a row to get to 11/13.

Justin now trails at 12/15.

Justin gets another point after a long rally.

Justin is just hanging on. He gets to 16 all. They are going point for point.  He now trails at 17/19. He gets back a point with a good smash.

Justin wins the match with a good smash.  The final score was 19/21, 21/18 and 21/19. That was a hard won and well deserved victory. His parents should be proud of him.

Tyzton and Xiang's Doubles match plus Justin and HD'S doubles

Dear readers

Xiang and Tyz are starting their doubles game against 2 Malaysian Lim  brothers. They get a quick lead of 2 pts. They are now up 4/1.   Malaysia gets to 2/7.  Australia gets to 11 first.
They are up at 14/10. They need to continue the pressure. They get to 16/10.  Malaysia gets a few pts to 13. Australian gets to set point  and Malaysia is at 15. Australia finishes the set.

The Malaysian Lim brothers remind me of Jaz and Tyz playing together. It is good bonding for the brothers.

2nd set and Malaysia gets the first point.  Malaysia gets the lead by 2 points but Aus quickly regains the lead before Malaysia draws at 6. They now draw at 7.  Malaysia gets the lead again at 9/7.  Aus draws at 9 and then takes the lead by 1 point. After a long rally Aus gets to 11 first.  They get to 15/11 before losing a point.

 

Aus gets to 19/13. they then get to match point with Xiang serving for an easy win. That's a first international win for Xiang and Tyzton at 21/15 and 21/14. They should be proud.

Tyz and Xiang are also surnamed Lin Tan respectively which sounds like Lin Dan.

Huai Dong and Justin are playing an Indonesia pair.

Indonesia gets the first set although Justin and Huai Dong are giving all they have.

Indo gets a lead in the 2nd set. Aus gets back a point after a good cross net by Justin. They draw with a strong smash by HD. Indo gets to 4/5. They are now playing point for point at 6 all. Indo gets the lead again.

Aus gets back the lead at 10/9. This is a closer fight and Aus needs to stay close.  They are now at 15 all.  Aus gets to a game point for a try at a 3rd set. Aus fails to convert and they are at deuce. They are now at 21 all. Aus gets the lead again. Indo gets back to deuce at 24 all. Indo gets the match point but Justin smashes to get back to deuce.  Aus gets the lead again when Indo hits out. Indo deuces yet again. Indo gets the lead again. Justin deuces for Aus. Aus gets the lead again at 26/25.  Justin kills a smash to get Aus the 3rd set.

Aus leads at 3/2.  They are now at 4 all. Both teams are still deadlocked at 6 all. Now at 8 all. Which team will break out.

Indo gets to 11/10.  Aus gets to 13/12 and then 15/12. Aus lose 2 points in a row to Indo.  Now they are at 16 all. This will be a deuce game I think.

Aus now leads at 18/16. Indo hits out an easy shot to give us another point. Aus hits 2 shots out and they are at 19 all again. Aus gets to match point and the linesman have to clean up the sweat after the Indo player falls on the floor. Aus wins the match.

That was a close game at 19/21, 27/25 and 21/19.

Gavin Ho and Jennifer Tam's games

Dear readers

Gavin is starting his game against an Indonesian player named F Yafi. Most of the players have returned to the hotel as they have been here in this stuffy court the whole day. Only Janet, Tiffany and Amos are here to cheer Gavin and Jennifer.

He is trailing 3/1. He gets a let after his shot went out. Now he is trailing at 6/1. Our players need to be more consistent and not give points away.

Indonesia gets to 11/3.   He trails at 15/6 before getting another point.


He gets to 10/17 after a strong smash.

He is now at 12/18. He just lost the first set at 21/12.

I am now at 3% battery strength.

He trails again on the 2nd set at 1/4.  He is now at 2/4.  He needs to keep close to his opponent. He draws at 5 all with a good smash.

They are trading points now at 6 all.  Gavin now trails by 1 point. He gets to 9/10. Indonesia gets to 11/9.  This is a better set and Gavin might have a chance. However I am down to 1% battery strength.

I have just recharged the battery for a short period.

Gavin loses the 2nd set at 21/11 and is quite upset.

Jennifer is playing a Singaporean girl  named Tan Ai  Ninna. She just lost the lead and the Singapore girl is at 11/10 first.

Jennifer proceeds to lose the first set.

The 2nd set seems a better set for Jennifer. She is leading by a small margin.  She gets to 11 first. However the Singaporean girl steps up and finally wins the game to Jennifer's disappointment.

That means the only player that made it through today was Huaidong.

Tomorrow the boys play their doubles games at 9.30 am. Stay tuned.

Joy Lai's and Amos Yi' games

Dear readers

Just came back after bringing some of the players to dinner. We missed Joy's games against Malaysian G Nurul. She lost the first set under 10 but came back strongly to win the 2nd set at 16/21. Unfortunately like Janet, she could not capitalise on  her win as she ran out of stamina. Her final score was 21/13.

Her Indonesian opponent proved too strong and was more able in the heat. She must be disappointed. She now has to focus on her doubles.

 

Amos is now playing Maliki Aiman of Malaysia. He is down 21/14 in the first set. He will have to find his inner spirit to win the 2nd set.

He is trailing again. Malaysia gets to 11 first. Amos is having a tough time keeping up. His shots are not getting in. Amos just lost the 2nd set.