Cheers Youth International 2007 in pics

[Loh]

Goodie bag from Cheers during the finals

Singapore Badminton has been a beneficiary of Cheers' sponsorship for a number of years now. Just look at the SBA website and you'll see Cheers name in many tournaments.

A subsidiary of NTUC FairPrice, which is owned by union members, it is heartening to see that Cheers has continued to return part of its profits to the masses and in this instance by lending its support to promote badminton at the youth level.

Those who attended the finals were each given a goodie bag plus a lucky draw with a top prize of a $50 cash voucher.

 

[Loh]

Prize Presentation

Some winners:

GSU13
Liang Yu Xiao (Sin) b Sureeporn Chaithongwongwatana (Tha) 21-9, 21-9

BSU17
Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin (3) (Mas) b Maneepong Jongjit (Tha) 21-12,
14-21, 21-19

BSU13
Ade Yusuf Santoso (Ina) b Roy Danu (INa) 15-21, 21-11, 21-10

GSU11
Rusely Hartawan (Ina) b Palita Assawachaiporn (Tha) 20-22, 21-14, 21-19

BSU19
Nandang Arief Saputra (Ina) b Ashton Chen Yong Zhao (1) (Sin) 21-17
17-21, 21-14

GSU15
Ratchanok Inthanon (Tha) b Yulia, Yosephine Susanto (Ina) 21-8, 21-10

 

[Loh]

Sapsiree Taerattanachai GS U17

A new exicting face from Thailand has emerged as the GS U17 champion.
Sapsiree defeated Singapore's Thailand-born Tanapat Pisitpong 21-11, 21-17 in the finals.

Sapsiree sports a 'wild' looking crop of hair and she was certainly strong in the court with her attacking game. Tanapat simply couldn't find an answer and submitted in the end in straight games.

 

[Loh]

Champions and Runners-up

GSU17 - Sapsiree Taerattanachai (THA) b Tanapat Pisitpong (SIN) 21-11,
21-17

BSU15 - Zulfadli Zulkiffli (MAS) b Teo Ee Yi (MAS) 21-3, 21-13

GDU13 - Sureeporn Chaithongwongwatana & Narissapat Lam (THA) b Rusely Hartawan & Lye Ersalita 21-15, 21-10

BDU17 - Maneepong Jongjit & Pollawat Boonpan b Berry Anggriawan & Seiko Wahyu Kusdiyanto 21-17, 21-15

GDU15 - Maetanee Phattanaphitoon & Ratchanok Inthanon b Shella Devi Aulia & Mega Cahy Purnama 19-21, 21-16, 27-25.

 

[Loh]

Thailand the overall winner wth 5 titles

The final results of the Cheers Youth International 2007 revealed the following:

Thailand was the overall winner with 5 titles: GDU13, GSU17, BDU17, GSU15 and GDU15. They also had 3 runner-up posititons: GSU13, GSU11, and BSU17. So Thailand was represented in 8 of the 15 finals, which was quite an achievement. It therefore appears that the youth development programme in Thailand is bearing fruit.

Indonesia came in a close second with 4 titles: GSU11, BDU13, BSU19 and BSU13. But their players achieved 7 runner-up placings, making a total of 11 finalists out of 15 events.

Malaysia and Singapore both tied for third place with 3 titles each.

Malaysia won the events for BSU17, BSU15 and BDU15 and was second in BDU13, BSU15 and BDU15.

Singapore secured the titles for GSU13, BSU11 and BDU19 and was runner-up in BSU19 and GSU17.

It is gratifying to note that badminton in Southeast Asia is still thriving although the other Asian powerhouses like China, Korea and Japan are not represented.

 

[Loh]

Boys' Doubles Under-17

Thailand's pair of Maneepong Jongjit, who was also runner-up in the BSU17, and Pollawat Boonpan was in top form and beat Indonesia's Berry Anggriawan and Seiko Wahyu Kusdiyanto 21-17, 21-15. Even the legendary double's specialist Sigit was unable to coach the young Indonesians from Djarum for a win.

 

[Loh]

Girls' Doubles Under-15 - Thailand beat Indonesia 19-21, 21-14, 27-25

The longest match of the day happened to be the most exciting! It last a good 1 hour 19 minutes with both teams fighting it out hard and giving of their best. They deserved the huge applause in the end.

Representing Thailand was Ratchanok Inthanon and Maetanee Phattanaphitoon. Ratchanok had the distinction of winning 2 titles, the GSU15 and the GDU15. She defeated Yulia Yosephine Susanto easily in the singles, 21-8, 21-10 in just 20 min.

About an hour later she and her partner Maetanee fought out a marathon against Indonesians Shella Devi Aulia and Mega Cahya Purnama before wining the decider 27-25.

There were long rallies with both teams refusing to give in. They ran and dive just to keep the rally alive. They gave their all in attack and were equally up to the task in defending. Only their excellent teamwork kept them alive. The last point was won by the Thais in the most unlikely fashion. Ratchanok, I think, rushed to return a clear to her left sideline. But she missed and fell. But fortunately for the Thais, the shuttle landed slightly out, otherwise the Indonesians would have won that point and the maximum 30 points might have been reached!

Ratchanok is a name to watch in the future for she has a never-say-die attitude and goes for every shot!

 

[Loh]

Boys' Doubles Under-19

Riky Widianto & Chayut Triyachart (1) (SIN) defeated Nandang Arif Saputra & Marcus Fernaldi (INA) 21-8, 21-18 in 20 min.

I think many were interested to watch this match and were hoping for a thriller. But they were greatly disappointed.

The first game was so tame with the Singapore pair thrashing their opponents who were unsettled by the big smashes of Chayut. Luckily the second game became alive with some good exchanges and Arif put out a good showing but still it was not enough for the Indonesians to force a rubber. There was some humour when Marcus changed to a red T with "INDONESIA" named on it. He was asked to change back to a shirt with his own name.

 

[george@chongwei]

very nice pics...
thanks for the pics!!...

 

[Loh]

very nice pics...
thanks for the pics!!...

You're welcome, George.

 

[huangkwokhau]

Good pics and report uncle LOH

 

[Oldhand]

Wow, this is a great contribution from Loh!
Thanks for the tons of pictures and info