The big guns set to rule Sea Games badminton again
South East Asian badminton powerhouse like Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand are once again set to rule the shuttle sport in the 29th South East Games, better known as the Sea Games.
Defending champions Indonesia are the top seeds in the men's team event while Thailand, winners of the gold medal at the last edition of the biennial games in Singapore in 2015 are the top seeds in the women's team event.
Indonesia men's open their campaign with a quarter-final match against Cambodia while Thailand, beaten semi-finalists in Singapore will take on Vietnam in the top half.
Second seeds Malaysia are in the bottom half of the draw and will face Laos in the quarter-finals while Singapore take on Myanmar.
In the 2015 Sea Games men's team final Indonesia beat Thailand 3-2 for the gold medal. In the semi-finals Indonesia beat Malaysia 3-2 while Thailand edged Singapore by a similar margin in the other semi-final.
Although the Thais will be without their former world No 1 and world champion Ratchanok Intanon, who will be competing in the World Championships in Glasgow, Scotland, the defending champions look strong to retain the title.
The Thai women beat Malaysia 3-0 to win the gold medal in Singapore.
In the individual events Chong Wei Feng beat compatriot Mohd Arif Abdul Latif in an all-Malaysian men's singles final.
The women's gold medal was won by Thailand's Busanan Ongbamrungphan who beat Indonesia's Hanna Ramadhini in the final.
Indonesia reigned supreme in the men's doubles with Angga Pratama-Ricky Karandan Suwardi defeating teammates Marcus Fernaldi Gideon-Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo for the men's gold medal.
Indonesia also won the mixed doubles gold through Praveen Jordan-Debby Susanto who defeated Malaysia's Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying in the final.
Thailand are favoured to retain the women's team gold. The Thais have drawn a bye in the quarter-finals and will play the winners of the Singapore-Vietnam tie in the semi-finals.
Indonesia, seeded second behind the Thais, face Laos in the quarter-finals with the winners taking on the winners of the Malaysia-Myanmar match in the semi-finals.
Related Article
World and Olympic Champions Competing at the BAMTC 2023
Job Vacancy: Chief Operating Officer
