DEAFLYMPICS: Malaysia end with two bronze

From: New Straits Times, Malaysia - Jan 16, 2005

Tony Mariadass in Melbourne

Jan 16:

THE Malaysian contingent had to settle for a two-bronze medal haul at the 20th Deaflympics in Melbourne which ends today when badminton and bowling failed to deliver yesterday.

In a final chance to boost their medal tally, the doubles pair of Yeo Kok Fang and Koh Fook Soong and bowler Zaidi Awang failed to finish in the medals.

At the Melbourne Sports and Acquatics Centre, Kok Fang-Fook Soong threw away a great opportunity to bag the bronze when they lost in the play-off against Artemy Karpov and Mikhail Efremov from Russia.

In the first game, they were holding service at 14-11 but blew it and eventually lost 17-15.

Kok Fang-Fook Soong won the second game 15-7, but were back to their sloppy playing in the rubber and after losing service at 6-6, let the match slip away finally losing 15-6.

The badminton team thus finish empty handed, after their best bet Thomas Teh suffered a recurrence of a heel injury which prevented him from advancing in the singles.

Defending champions Rajeev Bagga and Sandeep Dhillion bagged the gold when they beat Korean pair Bong Lee and Woo Sin 3-15, 15-13, 15-9.

Ranjeev later went on to win his fifth straight singles title.

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