The pair of Meun Rothana-Cheat Kheamravisoth let slip a semi-final appearance in the teqball boys’ doubles competition at the Asian Youth Games in Bahrain.
The Cambodian combination led 5-3 in the early stages of the third set of the quarter-final tie against Zhang Zhiang-Li Junlin but allowed the resurgent Chinese pair to claw back and win the set 12-7.
The Chinese pairing, who had finished second in in Group B, to advance to the last eight, romped home 12-10, 9-12, 12-7 winners and a shot of gaining a medal.
Rothana-Kheamravisoth, had qualified for the quarter-finals, after finishing third in their Group B stage.
The Cambodian teenagers had opened their campaign in Group B on a winning note, beating India’s Akash SIngha-Rajib Barbhuiya 12-2, 12-11 and followed it up by edging out Filipinos Andres Nomar-Erece Fits12-6, 9-12, 12-4.
However, Rothana-Kheamravisoth were beaten in their next two group matches.
Iraq’s Abulfadhel Al Elayawi-Nooruldeen Khammas gave a polished display to hammer the national junior pair12-4, 12-4. This was followed by another crushing defeat at the hands of Katanyu Potong-Ketsada Mahasaksit, with the Thai pair winning 12-4, 12-2.
Despite the two defeats, Rothana-Kheamravisoth, were already assired of a quarter-final slot with the top four teams in each group making the quarter-final cut. But they cemented their last eight spot in third spot from the group with a comprehensive 12-2, 12-3 win over home side Isa Hussain-Hasan Ali of Bahrain.
QUARTER-FINALS: Katanyu Potong-Ketsada Mahasaksit (Tha) bt Nabil Kamil-Mochammad Nugraha (Ina) 12-5, 12-1; Zhang Zhiang-Li Junlin (Chn) bt Meun Rothana-Cheat Kheamravisoth (Cam) 12-10, 9-12, 12-7; Abulfadhel Al Elayawi-Nooruldeen Khammas (Irq) bt Abdallah Al Wuhaib-Abdulrahman Al Kandari (Kuw) 12-1, 12-5; Danish Amirul-Rahmat bin Abdullah (Mas) bt Akash Singha-Rajib Barbhuiya (Ind) 8-12, 12-1,12-7
