2009 Australian Uni Games Highlights

2nd Oct 09 UTS(3) – MON(2). This is it! Bronze medal match between UTS and Monash University. Just to set the scene: Monash University has been the champion for the past 2 consecutive years. With plenty of competitive experience behing the Monash team, UTS is definitely the underdog of this match. Will Lemondhi be able to secure the 1st win for UTS? It was a 3 sets thriller yet again for Lemondhi but the opponent was too consistent and Monash took the 1st game. Hoang took the 1st set of the 2nd singles easily but struggled with the opponent’s change of game play through the 2nd set. Despite dropping the 2nd set, Hoang managed to overcome his tiredness and finished the game off with his relentless attacks. 1-1 to UTS and Monash. Clive is up next playing Monash’s 1st single. Unexpectedly, Clive managed to stay close to the opponent in both sets and at times it seemed likely, with some luck, a possible 3rd set. However, the opponent was too experienced for young Clive. All hopes are now on the 2nd doubles. Clive and Alfred partnership was in total distress after the 1st set. None was able to set up and UTS was mostly in the defensive mode. Monash started to pull away in the scores and was at Bronze medal point with UTS trailing behind at 17. Clive to serve… consecutive number of unforced errors from Monash put UTS right back into the Bronze medal contention! 3rd set started well for Clive and Alfred but proceeded in the similar fashion as the 2nd set. In a blink of an eye, Monash was once again at Bronze medal point with UTS behind at 18. Clive to serve again… … … one by one Monash gave the points away by sheer nerves and pressure. No one in the team on the sidelines was able to keep their composure at 21-20. As everyone was holding on to the edge of the seats, a perfect spinning net shot by Clive was all it needed to finish off Monash. The deciding game was then rest upon the shoulders of Captain Steven and Hoang. Hoang’s continuous attack from the back was damaging enough but Steven’s set up and deception at the front of the net was too superior. Monash had no answers to UTS’s attack whatsoever. Finally, UTS badminton men’s team brings home the first medal for UTS for the last 10 years! Congratulations! Well deserved!!!

1st Oct 09 UTS (2) – USYD(3). This is the Big Day for UTS – the determining match as to who will advance into the finals tomorrow. The match started off with a 3 sets opening game between Lemondhi and Tommy Wong of USYD. It was just not the day for Lemondhi as Lady Luck sides the opponent during the game. Racquet breakage at the critical point of the game and the lack of time to adjust to the new racquet was enough to upset Lemondhi’s timings. A lead at half-time through the 3rd set was not enough to settle the nerves as consecutive number of unforced errors from Lemondhi eventually gave the game away to USYD. Vice-captain Alfred was also not in the right form and succumbed the 2nd set to the opponent. All eyes were on the 1st single now as a win to USYD will immediately seal the fate for UTS without having to play the 2 doubles. However, the extra pressure was not able to sway Hoang’s game play as he clinched the 1st singles in straight sets. Can Lemondhi and Alfred redeem themselves in the 2nd doubles game? Unfortunately, USYD’s solid defensive play proved too much for the UTS pair. Even when the hope of a Gold medal match was dashed, Steven and Hoang stepped into the game with poise and sportsmanship and finished off USYD’s 1st doubles with ease.

30th Sep 09 Part 2: To our surprise, UNSW did NOT make it to the next round after losing out to Griffith University earlier on today. So now, UTS will have to battle Griffith later this afternoon for a place in tomorrow’s semi-final against USYD… and a call just came through with the news that UTS WILL be in tomorrow’s semi-final! Congratulations guys! Their semi will start tomorrow at 9am and (myself) will be bringing you all the actions live from Gold Coast! Leave your support and best wishes for our guys below!!

30th Sep 09 Part 1: UTS (1) – MELB (4). It is an early start for UTS today as they prepare for their 9am match up against arguably, the strongest line up at this year’s AUG. With Jeff Tho, the current Australian national singles champion, and Luke Chong, the former Australian junior national squad member in their arsenal, UTS struggled today to find form. Clive put up a valiant fight against the Australia #1 and Alfred did his best to hold on to the 2nd single but in vain. The only consolation comes from Lemondhi and Pubudu’s 2nd doubles where they clinched the only win for UTS . To all supporters, not to fret, UTS has done well enough to play the next round against either Griffith University or UNSW from the other pool this afternoon at 3pm. The winner will play USYD tomorrow and THAT I promise will be exciting!!! Afternoon results to follow so stay tune!

29th Sep 09 UTS (4) – RMIT (1). Click here for live results. UTS leads 1 – 0 as Lemondhi claims the 3rd single in 3 sets. As Hoang steps up for the 2nd single match, the attention is now brought toward Clive and his next match against the 1st single from RMIT. Both players are not unfamiliar with each other’s game play. Today’s match will be seen as a re-play of last year’s 1st single match between the 2 teams. Will Clive be able to seek revenge for his defeat last year or will the opponent prove too strong yet again?… Unfortunately, a comfortable lead of 2 – 0 did not slow the nerves down as repeated unforced errors from Clive gave the match away to RMIT. However, RMIT failed to match up to UTS doubles formations and could only walk away at the end of the day with 1 game. Hooray! Tomorrow, UTS will face the strongest team this year – Melbourne University, so stay tune for tomorrow’s match updates!

28th Sep 09 UTS (3) – UWA (2).  Lemondhi clinches the first win for UTS in 3 sets in the 3rd single match. Pubudu brought the 2nd single to 3 sets as well but fell short and UTS and UWA are now at 1 – 1. 1st single goes to UWA unfortunately although Clive fights hard to bring the game to a 3rd set. With only 1 win in hand, UTS have to deliver straight wins in their doubles to guarantee their overall win against UWA… and so they did!!! With vice-captain Alfred and captain Steven leading each of the doubles respectively, UTS manage to turn the tables around and final results 3 – 2 to UTS!

27th Sep 09 Let the Games Begin! The Draw is OUT! Teams are being divided into 2 pools this year and UTS has been drawn in the pool together with 2008 runner-up Melbourne University and fourth place University of Western Australia. Their first game will start tomorrow at 12 noon. Stay tune for more match updates!

25th Sep 09 After a year of preparation and 6 intensive months of training, the Australian Uni-Games 2009 is finally here! Our UTS Badminton Team will be battling some of the best players and best teams including defending champion Monash University for the title. Steven Goh will be leading the UTS team with Vice-Captain Alfred Tong, powerhouses Lemondhi and Pubudu Tennekoon, youngest player in the team Clive Chan and seasoned player Tran Hoang Pham. Their games will start next Monday on the 28th of Sept. Visit this page for daily updates on their games!

To view the pictures of AUG 2009, please click here