C’WEALTH GAMES Final – Malaysia two good

The Malaysians did well to rescue their campaign, winning two golds in the men’s and women’s doubles to add to the team gold earlier in the tournament. India could only take one gold after an impressive performance from Kashyap, and Singapore rounded out with two silvers.

By Michael Burke, Badzine Correspondent, live from Glasgow.  Photos: Yohan Nonotte for Badmintonphoto (live).

The men’s singles match was full of twists and turns as the first gold medal match to go to three games.

Derek Wong recovered to walk the second game, taking the momentum into the rubber set, but Kashyap Parupalli (pictured left) dragged it back to point-by-point exchanges.

Derek Wong (pictured right) was the more nervous of the players going into the business end, and Kashyap looked to have won it, but at 19-all it was anyone’s game.

The Indian held on though and put on an impressive celebration with his team, depositing his racket with the crowd, to win India’s first men’s singles medal since Syed Modi in ’82. Kashyap also kindly donated his match-winning shirt to be auctioned for Solibad so look out for this opportunity soon.

“It’s crazy, I feel great, I’m so happy to be a champion. India, need this, I needed this,” said Kashyap. “I knew these kinds of games are not about the opponent – anyone can win on the day and I’m just happy to be on the podium.

“After the first game I really didn’t think he had the fight, then he came back and was very aggressive at the net. I knew I needed to be aggressive, even if my game wasn’t quite working,” he added.

Inevitably questioned on Lee Chong Wei’s absence, “Look I had to beat all these players, Chong Wei Feng, Raj [Ouseph], Daren Liew and Derek, players who were all bringing in good form.”

India couldn’t do the double as the women’s doubles ended in high drama. On match point at Gutta and Ponnappa lost 4 straight points as Vivian Kah Mun Hoo and Woon Khe Wei (pictured left) came to win the deciding game 23-21.

“I can’t believe it, I can’t even remember how we did it in the second set,” said Hoo.

It’s been a disappointing tournament for the Malaysians, who have had their poorest result of their Commonwealth badminton history, so the players might have been under some pressure coming into the game.

“I was nervous before the game but not much pressure, more excited. We thought it would be close as they are the same level as us,” said Hoo.

“For me I didn’t feel any pressure as they are the defending champions, I just had to focus on my game,” added Woon.

Their opponent Gutta chose to reflect on a good run, “Last time it was gold, this time to get to the finals is good, it shows we’re playing consistently.”

Last up, Singapore had a chance to better the silver medal won by Wong earlier, as Chrisnanta and Triyachart faced Malaysia’s Goh and Tan.

It was not to be however as Goh V. Shem and Tan Wee Kiong (pictured right) turned around a second game fight back from Singapore to win the second for Malaysia on the day.

“Definitely we feel great after winning, many thanks to our supporters. Very proud to have won it for Malaysia,” said Tan

“We feel the pressure as Malaysia was set a target of seven golds overall, and we only had four before the badminton,” he added.

Up next for the pair, “We’ll be heading to the World Championships but playing with different partners. Then we’ll come back together and get our ranking up so we can be seeded,” said Goh.

The full results for the day can be found here.