Gold for Chan and Chew

04 August 2002

Chew Choon Eng and Chan Chong Ming collected Malaysia's third badminton gold in the men's doubles final.

Gold won at Bolton Arena by Malaysia

The pair won gold after beating team-mates Chang Kim Wai and Choong Tan Fook in the men's doubles final earlier today.

In a match of all-out attacking badminton, the shuttle was rarely lifted by either pair who preferred to smash and drive at every opportunity.

The world Mo 3 pair of Chew and Chan took the first set 7-5, but the recently formed partnership of Choong and Chang pulled together to take the second 7-4.

Choong and Chang maintained control of the match as errors began to creep into Chan and Chew's game.

At 4-2 down in the third set, Chan and Chew let two shuttles fall in on the baseline and then Chan smashed wide to enable Choong and Chang to take a 2-1 lead.

The world No 2 pairing re-established control of the match in the fourth set, digging deep to win 7-5.

Chan and Chew then wrapped up the match in six minutes - taking the final set 7-3 - when Chew, the only right-hander on court, placed a winning smash down the centre of his opponents court.

Gold medal-winner Chan Chong Ming added: "I am very happy because this is my first time at the Commonwealth Games. Our Malaysian target was to win two golds and we have now got three."

Silver medal-winner Choong Tan Fook commented: "I think we played really well, but they played better than us."