Badminton WA Under 17s team 2019: WA v NSW 2 Quarter finals

Dear readers

Today has been a good day for the team. They had an easy morning before getting ready to do battle with their arch enemies NSW 2. Like Vic 2, these battles with NSW2 are always close.

Alex and Julia went on first against K Lowe and Y Say. WA won the first set at 21/19. However, both WA girls lost concentration and the game at 21/19 and 21/19. This was not a good start for WA. However the girls have given their best.

The boys then went on. Amos and Edward played V He and D Low. WA evened the score with a 21/19 and 21/23 win. That was close.

Phing and Silvi endured a 3 setter to win at 21/19, 10/21 and 15/21.

Titus and Tyz increased the lead after fighting back from a first set loss of 13/21. They got the next 2 sets at 21/17 and 21/15.

WA is now leading at 3/1.

Julia then went against Y Say. She went down fighting at 18/21 and 18/21.

NSW 2 has caught up to 2/3. Edward then plays against K Chan and extends the WA lead after winning 21/19 and 21/19.

Silvi played next against Nicolle Min. Nicolle gets the first set at 21/9. Silvi toughens up and gets to 21/15 for a 3 setter. Unfortunately she ran out of puff and lost at 10/21.

WA now has a slim 4/3 lead. The captain then goes on against Vincent He. He has an easy game at 21/12 and 21/14 extending WA's lead again at 5/3.

This must be making coach Yuli sweat.

Alex then plays K Lowe. Again the NSW girls are too strong and win against Alex at 21/12 and 21/14.

WA is back to a 1 match lead.

Tyzton goes next against C Koh. They played each other in an epic 3 setter in the quarters of the Under 15s last year with Tyz emerging as the winner. This time, Tyz wins at 21/9 and 21/18.

Phing also gets an easy win against S Dang at 21/11 and 21/13.

WA looks more comfortable with a 7/4 lead.

Amos goes next against Matthew Lee. Amos wins the first set at 23/21. He loses the 2nd set at 19/21. I am told that at the 3rd set he was down at 15/20 and things were looking desperate for WA. Amos then proceeds to win 7 points and the game at 22/20. What a trooper. His mum must be frantic.

So, again it was down to KJ Teoh and Julia to confirm the win with the 9th match. They do not fail WA and get 21/12 and 21/15. I am told that KJ has changed so much as a player. He is more confident and aggressive shouting "sold" and fist pumping to get his adrenaline up. I do not know whether that is a good thing as Tyz does the same :)

WA has made history by getting into the semifinals.

It is KJ's, Julia and Serena's first state team and they are part of history.

Edward and Silvi confirms the WA win against V He and K Lowe winning 21/18 and 21/7.

Titus and Phing also have comfortable wins against C Koh and Y Say at 31/14 and 21/19.

Tyz and Alex finish the game with a 21/7 and 21/13 win against M Lee and S Dang.

WA has a final score of 12/4.

As a treat, I am told the team had Krispy Kreme.

Tomorrow the team plays Northern NZ which may well be the strongest team.

WA has a chance to make further history tomorrow and we wish Yuli and Kay and the team well.

I spoke to Yuli after the game by phone and she was estatic. She was full of praise for all the players.

I spoke to Kay next and she was the one who told me this is history again as WA has never made it to the semi finals.

If they win NNZ they will be playing for gold against the eventual winner of the Vic 1 and NSW 1 teams.

A medal chance is definitely what the team should be dreaming for when they sleep tonight.

I hope they sleep with a full stomach. I am told Touk krei has already prepared oats for breakfast tomorrow.

Well, if I was there, they would probably be having pork and vegetable porridge instead.

I have just been sent some photos of the team by Annie.