Women's badminton team clinch Singapore's first medal of 2025 SEA Games despite 3-0 loss to Thailand

BANGKOK: It was a case of deja vu for Singapore’s women’s team as they lost 3-0 to defending champions Thailand on Monday (Dec 8) to take bronze.

This is Singapore’s first medal of the 33rd SEA Games - there is no third-fourth place playoff in the team event.

At the 2023 Cambodia Games, the Thais also faced Singapore in the semi-finals, emerging 3-1 winners. Singapore then clinched three bronzes, in the men's and women's team events as well as the men's doubles.

The women's team was once again without the services of its top women’s singles player Yeo Jia Min, who also did not feature in Singapore’s 3-0 win over the Philippines a day prior.

National singles’ coach Kim Ji-Hyun said on Monday that Yeo, 26, was rested so as to provide an opportunity for younger players to compete. She added that the world number 18 will compete in the individual event.

At the Thammasat University Gymnasium 4 in Pathum Thani, world number 146 Nur Insyirah Khan put up a creditable showing but lost to 21-14, 21-15 to world number 6 Pornpawee Chochuwong in 45 minutes.

In the first doubles, Thailand's Benyapa Aimsaard and Supissara Paewsampran cruised past Jin Yu Jia and Li Zheng Yan 21-6, 21-10 to extend Thailand's lead.

Experienced world number 8 Ratchanok Intanon then beat Singapore youngster Megan Lee 21-8, 21-10 to book the hosts' place in the final.

"I was really impressed with the amount of energy from the younger ones, they fought hard," said Kim. "They gave everything, even though there is a huge gap (in levels)."

According to the Badminton World Federation, Thailand's women’s team has been unbeaten at the Games since 2011.

"We need time (to get to their level). We can't be champions in a day," said Kim. "We need to be patient (with the) players,