Kembara Pasukan Piala Thomas yang Pertama, 1949 (Bahagian 3) – Malaya vs USA: penampilan pemain perseorangan terhebat di awal pasca perang dunia.
Kesemua 2,700 tiket untuk perlawanan separuh akhir antara USA dan Malaya yang dijadualkan pada 21hb dan 22hb Februari 1949 di Glasgow telah habis dijual. Ramai pelajar Malaya yang berada di Britain hampa kerana tidak berjaya mendapatkan tiket. Sementara itu kedua-dua pasukan dijangka berkongsi keuntungan bersih sebanyak lapan ratus pound sterling hasil penjualan tiket tersebut.
Pasukan Malaya dengan yakin memberitahu Sir George Thomas yang nama Malaya akan terukir di atas piala yang beliau hadiahkan untuk pertandingan. Mereka bertemu di Hotel Cleveland, penginapan pasukan Malaya.
Manakala pasukan USA yang mempunyai seorang pemain yang sangat hebat juga yakin akan peluang mereka. Kapten USA, Dave Freeman, 28 tahun, seorang doktor berasal dari California, tidak pernah kalah selama 10 tahun. Beliau ditugaskan pemain perseorangan yang pertama untuk meraih mata dan pencetus semangat untuk pasukan USA.
Perlawanan separuh akhir akan menyaksikan dua pemain perseorangan terhebat di awal pasca perang dunia. Dave Freeman dan juara Singapura sebanyak tiga kali, Wong Peng Soon. Pasukan Malaya juga menampilkan juara Malaya, Ooi Teik Hock sebagai pemain perseorangan pertama.
Pada hari pertama perlawanan, 21 Februari 1949, Malaya mendahului dengan skor 3-1. Keputusan perlawanan:
Wong Peng Soon v. Marten Mandez (menang)
15-11, 11-15, 15-10
Ooi Teik Hock v. Dave Freeman (kalah)
10-15, 15-10, 4-15
Chan Kon Leong & Yeoh Teck Chye v. Bob Williams & Clint Stephens (menang)
15-7, 15-12
Ooi Teik Hock & Teoh Seng Khoon v. Dave Freeman & Wynn Rogers (menang)
15-8, 7-15, 15-8
Pada hari kedua, 22 Februari 1949, Malaya mengutip tiga mata berbanding USA dengan 2 mata
Wong Peng Soon v. Dave Freeman (kalah)
4-15, 1-15
Ooi Teik Hock v. Marten Mendez (menang)
15-11, 16-17, 15-10
Law Teik Hock v. Carl Loveday (kalah)
12-15, 5-15
Yeoh Teck Chye & Chan Kon Leong v. Dave Freeman & Wynn Rogers (menang)
15-9, 15-7
Ooi Teik Hock & Teoh Seng Khoon v. Bob Williams & Clint Stephens (menang)
9-15, 15-6, 15-11
Dengan kejayaan 6-3 ke atas USA, pasukan Malaya berjaya menempah tiket ke final Piala Thomas yang pertama. Denmark menunggu di final yang diadakan di Preston pada 25 Februari 1949.
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Journey of the first Thomas Cup Team (Part 3)
Malaya vs. USA: Presenting the greatest singles player in the early post-war period
All 2,700 tickets for the semi-final match between Malaya and USA have sold out. The matches were scheduled for 21st and 22nd February, 1949 in Glasgow. Many Malayan students in Britain were disappointed as they were not able to get tickets. Meanwhile, both teams were expected to share a net profit of 800 pounds sterling from ticket sales.
The Malayan team confidently told Sir George Thomas that Malaya’s name would be engraved on the winning trophy that he has presented for competition. They met at the Cleveland Hotel, where the Malayan team was residing.
USA was also confident of their chances as they had a prominent player on their side. USA Captain Dave Freeman, 28 and a doctor from California, has not lost a match in 10 years. He was assigned as the team’s first singles player to garner points and build enthusiasm for the USA team.
The semi-finals would see two of the greatest singles player of that early post-World War II period. Dave Freeman and three-time Singapore champion, Wong Peng Soon. The Malayan team also featured Malayan champion Ooi Teck Hock to be their first singles player.
First day of the match, February 2, 1949, Malaya led with a score of 3 – 1. Match results:
Wong Peng Soon v. Marten Mandez (Won)
15-11, 11-15, 15-10
Ooi Teik Hock v. Dave Freeman (Lost)
10-15, 15-10, 4-15
Chan Kon Leong & Yeoh Teck Chye v. Bob Williams & Clint Stephens (Won)
15-7, 15-12
Ooi Teik Hock & Teoh Seng Khoon v. Dave Freeman & Wynn Rogers (Won)
15-8, 7-15, 15-8
On the second day, February 22, 1949, Malaya collected three points while USA managed two.
Wong Peng Soon v. Dave Freeman (Lost)
4-15, 1-15
Ooi Teik Hock v. Marten Mendez (Won)
15-11, 16-17, 15-10
Law Teik Hock v. Carl Loveday (Lost)
12-15, 5-15
Yeoh Teck Chye & Chan Kon Leong v. Dave Freeman & Wynn Rogers (Won)
15-9, 15-7
Ooi Teik Hock & Teoh Seng Khoon v. Bob Williams & Clint Stephens (Won)
9-15, 15-6, 15-11
With a 6–3 victory over USA, Malaya managed to secure a ticket to the first Thomas Cup final. Awaiting them is Denmark, who will meet Malaya for the final match on February 25, 1949 in Preston.
