Confident start sets up semifinal with Thailand
Singapore claimed its first medal of the 33rd SEA Games in Thailand after the women’s badminton team beat the Philippines 3-0 in the quarter final at Thammasat University Gymnasium 4 in Pathum Thani on Sunday. The victory guarantees at least a bronze for the Republic, since both losing semi finalists are awarded third place in the team event. It also sets up a high stakes meeting with hosts Thailand on Monday morning, a matchup that will measure Singapore’s growing depth against one of the strongest squads in Southeast Asia.
The result matches Singapore’s team bronze from the last Games in Cambodia and arrives with a notable wrinkle. World number 18 Yeo Jia Min did not feature, a strategic rest that allowed younger teammates to shoulder the load in the opener. The plan worked. The tie was decided in three straight singles matches, which meant doubles contests were not needed in the best of five format.
World number 146 Nur Insyirah Khan put Singapore ahead with a composed 21-15, 21-18 win over world number 175 Mikaela De Guzman in 46 minutes. That early lead steadied the team before 20 year old Megan Lee staged a gritty turnaround. The world number 150 dropped her first game 19-21 to Ysabel Amora, who is unranked by the Badminton World Federation, then saved tight moments to take the next two games 24-22, 21-16. The 81 minute marathon swung the tie heavily in Singapore’s favor. Jaslyn Hooi finished the job with a brisk 21-10, 21-14 victory over Christel Rei Fuentespina, completing the clean sweep.
Thailand awaits in the semi final. The hosts are reigning champions and received a bye into the last four, which also guaranteed their women a medal. Their singles depth is formidable, led by top 20 players like Pornpawee Chochuwong and Ratchanok Intanon. On paper it is the sternest test in the region for Singapore’s women. The two countries met at the same stage in 2023, where Thailand prevailed 3-1 before going on to win gold.
Men’s team action also begins for Singapore, with a quarter final against Laos scheduled later on Sunday. A win would mean at least a bronze for the men as well, with a probable semi final against Indonesia, who advanced directly to the last four.
How the team event works
Badminton team ties at the SEA Games follow a best of five format that combines singles and doubles. Teams submit lineups for first singles, first doubles, second singles, second doubles, and third singles. The order may vary, and once a team reaches three match wins the tie ends. That is why Singapore’s quarter final featured three singles and no doubles, since the sweep was complete before the remaining contests were needed.
There is no third place playoff in the team competitions. Both losing semi finalists receive bronze medals. It is a structure that rewards teams for reaching the last four and helps manage the tight schedule. The team events run from Dec 7 to Dec 10, followed by the individual events from Dec 11 to Dec 14. All team ties at these Games are staged at Gymnasium 4 on the Rangsit campus of Thammasat University.
Why the bronze is already secure
Reaching the semi finals is the key threshold. Once there, the bracket does not include an extra match to decide third place. The format has long been used at the SEA Games and other multi sport events for team badminton, where congestion across many sports and venues makes compact scheduling essential. For Singapore, the win over the Philippines provided that bronze assurance and a shot at a larger prize if they can upset the hosts.
Who led the way against the Philippines
Singapore’s plan revolved around delivering a strong start, keeping nerves in check, and staying efficient in the rallies. All three featured singles players executed that blueprint, each in a different way.
Insyirah Khan sets the tone
Insyirah kept the first match tidy, applying early pressure in the forecourt and controlling the tempo during longer exchanges. Her straight games win over De Guzman secured the cushion Singapore needed. First matches in team ties often set the emotional tone for both benches. Insyirah’s ability to move the shuttle early and finish at the net prevented the tie from becoming a grind from the outset.
Megan Lee shows composure
Lee was dragged into the most demanding contest of the tie and found a way through. She overcame the opening game loss by tightening her length, lifting deeper when under pressure, and taking fewer risks on the kill shots until the openings were clear. That patience was decisive in the second game and her energy held in the decider, where she closed rallies on her terms. After her match, Lee reflected on the occasion and what it meant to step in for her team.
Megan Lee, 20, said it was her first time contesting the team event at the SEA Games and that the performance lifted her confidence.
“Personally for me, I think it is a big stepping stone, because it is my first time playing in the team event in the SEA Games. I think it is a big confident booster. As a team, we will try to give our best as we are playing against a stronger opponent, we will not back down, and we will try to give our best and fight for every single point.”
Jaslyn Hooi closes it out
Hooi’s straight games win completed the 3-0 score line. She looked comfortable in the mid court, kept errors low on the attack, and denied Fuentespina the rhythm needed to extend points. The quick finish spared the team a long afternoon and preserved energy for the Thai test that comes shortly after.
What Singapore must solve against Thailand
Thailand brings two major advantages into the semi final. The first is depth in women’s singles. Players such as Pornpawee Chochuwong and Ratchanok Intanon are established in the world top 20, with Supanida Katethong and Busanan Ongbamrungphan also proven at the highest level. That depth gives Thailand flexibility to set matchups and to respond if a first singles contest becomes a long battle. The second advantage is home support. Familiar courts, shuttle speed, and crowd energy often play subtle roles in tight matches.
Singapore’s response will likely include the return of Yeo Jia Min to the lineup. Yeo has a strong record of pushing top opposition and will be central to any upset bid. Insyirah, Hooi, and Lee have shown they can absorb pressure and stay composed, traits that will be essential if the tie stretches to the fourth or fifth match.
Doubles could be a swing area. While Thailand’s singles strength is well known, their women’s pairs have seen changes through the season and the selection choices can vary. Singapore has invested in building durable pairings and a clear tactical playbook in the women’s doubles space. If the tie goes long, the ability to serve with precision, control the flat exchanges, and manage defensive shape can tilt a contest in either direction.
History favors Thailand. They beat Singapore 3-1 at the same stage in 2023 and have captured a string of women’s team titles at the Games. For Singapore, a sharp first singles, patience in the middle rubbers, and clean starts in doubles will be the pathway to an upset that would guarantee silver and a chance at gold.
Medal targets and squad depth for Singapore
The Singapore Badminton Association set a target of four medals for these Games, reflecting belief in both the team events and selected individual draws. The 18 player squad blends experience and youth. World champion Loh Kean Yew and world number 26 Jason Teh headline the men’s singles. Yeo Jia Min and Jaslyn Hooi lead the women’s singles. In doubles, Singapore fields pairs that have gathered momentum on the international circuit, including Wesley Koh with Kubo Junsuke in men’s doubles, Jin Yujia with Heng Xiao En in women’s doubles, and mixed doubles combinations led by Terry Hee with Jin Yujia and Kriston Choo with Heng Xiao En.
Rising talents, such as 18 year old Ding Hanjin and the Li sisters Zhenghong and Zhengyan, are part of the lineup. Their inclusion is part of a larger plan to build depth for future Games, while reinforcing the present medal push. Preparation for Bangkok included a centralized camp and quality sparring partners to raise intensity and match readiness.
Yeo also carries the flag for Singapore at the Opening Ceremony, a role that reflects her position in the team and wider delegation. She has returned to form with a title this season and trimmed her schedule to manage injuries, placing a premium on freshness for the Games. The women’s team will look to her as an anchor in singles and as a senior voice in the group.
The men join the chase
Singapore’s men open against Laos with a clear equation. Win, and a bronze is assured with a semi final spot. The opponent in the last four is likely to be Indonesia, a country with deep tradition across all five disciplines. The men’s team features firepower and improved consistency. Loh ended a long title drought in the first half of the season and has focused on health management in recent months to arrive in Bangkok ready to peak. Teh claimed a breakthrough at the Thailand Masters earlier in the year and has been steady in the back half of the season.
On the doubles courts, new combinations and young pairs have gathered enough tour wins to believe they can nick points off favored teams. For team ties, that belief can be decisive. If the men navigate Laos efficiently, confidence will carry into the expected duel with Indonesia where every game inside the five match format carries weight.
How to follow the badminton at the Games
All team ties for badminton are staged at Thammasat University’s Gymnasium 4 in Pathum Thani. Team events run from Dec 7 to Dec 10. Individual events follow from Dec 11 to Dec 14 across five disciplines, with draws for men’s singles, women’s singles, men’s doubles, women’s doubles, and mixed doubles.
Live coverage of the SEA Games is available across Southeast Asia. In Singapore, television and digital platforms will carry live broadcasts and highlights, including key badminton sessions. Schedules and updates are posted by the organizers through official channels during the Games period, and match times can shift based on tie duration and court availability, so checking day of updates is advised.
What to Know
- Singapore defeated the Philippines 3-0 in the women’s team quarter final to secure at least a bronze medal.
- Nur Insyirah Khan, Megan Lee, and Jaslyn Hooi won their singles matches to complete the sweep.
- Yeo Jia Min, world number 18, did not play against the Philippines and is expected to feature against Thailand.
- Hosts Thailand are reigning champions and received a bye into the semi finals, where they face Singapore.
- There is no playoff for third place in team badminton, so both losing semi finalists receive bronze medals.
- Team badminton runs from Dec 7 to Dec 10, followed by individual events from Dec 11 to Dec 14.
- Singapore’s badminton squad targets four medals at these Games, with a blend of experienced names and emerging players.
- The men’s team faces Laos in the quarter finals. A win will secure a bronze and set up a likely semi final against Indonesia.
