It was a perfect gift for birthday boy Ong Zhen Yi (pic) as he delivered the winning point for Penang in the boys’ Under-16 final of the 100PLUS National Junior Inter-state Team Championships at the Bukit Dumber Badminton Hall.
Penang defended their title by beating Kuala Lumpur 2-1.
Zhen Yi, who celebrates his 16th birthday today, defeated Hooi Shao Herng 21-13, 21-15 in the decider.
Earlier, Penang did not get off to a good start when Samuel Lee dropped the first point after being outplayed 17-21, 7-21 by Justin Hoh but the doubles pair of Goh Boon Zhe-Rayner Beh Chun Meng leveled the tie with a hard-fought win over favourites Bryan Jeremy Goonting-Mohd Fazriq Razif 21-17 14-21 21-18.
RESULTS
Finals
Boys
Under-16: Penang bt Kuala Lumpur 2-1 (Samuel Lee lost to Justin Hoh 17-21, 7-21; Goh Boon Zhe-Rayner Beh Chun Meng bt Bryan Jeremy Goonting-Mohd Fazriq Razif 21-17, 14-21, 21-18; Ong Zhen Yi bt Hooi Shao Herng 21-13, 21-15).
Under-12: Penang bt Kedah 2-1 (Tan Zhi Shen lost to Kee Is Qian 13-21, 13-21; Martin Lam Yi Jie-Nixon Ang Jie Shen bt Chua Yi Xuan-See Yi Shin 23-21, 21-13; Tan Zhi Yang bt Loh Zi Heng 16-21 14-21).
Girls
Under-16: Selangor bt Penang 2-1 (K. Letshanaa bt Carmen Ting Wei Wen 21-11, 21-10; Ho Lo Ee-Loh Zhi Wei lost to Hoe Shi Yun-Oh Jia Qi 18-21, 22-24; Siti Nurshuhaini Azman bt Lim Shin 21-19, 21-18).
Under-12: Penang bt Kuala Lumpur 2-0 (Christine Lam Mei He bt Lee Kay Xin 19-21, 21-14, 21-10, Lim Zhin Shin-Nicole Tan Pei En bt Teh Xin Ying-Yap Jing Ning 21-15, 22-20).
Third-place playoffs
Boys
Under-16: Perak bt Selangor 2-1 (Anson Cheong bt Chua Kim Sheng 21-12, 21-9; Chun Zhen Thai-Edward Cheong lost to Kenny Khew Han Yang-Mohd Haris Sufian bin Rushdan 14-21, 18-21; Ewe Eon Eogene bt Yap Juin An 21-15, 21-16).
Under-12: Kuala Lumpur bt Johor 2-0 (Tan Yu Xiao bt Chee Hong Wei 21-19, 21-17; Irfan Aqil Muhd Najib-Lee Jian Xun bt Shaun Teo Jin Herng-Yew Jun An 21-9, 21-16).
Girls
Under-16: Penang bt Kedah 2-1 (Khor Jing Wen bt Lim Qian Thong 21-16, 21-8; Lee Xin Jie-Tan Sheng Thing lost to Cheng Su Hui-Cheng Su Yin 12-21, 20-22; Tan Zhing Yi bt Yeshveenii Kalaiseluan 20-22, 21-19, 21-14).
Under-12: Selangor bt Pahang 2-0 (Nilasha Kalishvaran bt Nisa Farina Nordin 21-7, 21-16; Carine Tee Xin Qi-Shwen Sheyeon Wong bt Cheok Xin Yi-Chleo Yeo Feng Yun 21-17, 13-21, 21-18).