THE 3rd Borneo Games badminton competition is heating up but only two Bruneians are still in contention.

The semi-finals of the men's single, women's single, men's double, women's double and mixed double will be held at the Multipurpose Hall of the Hassanal Bolkiah National Sports Complex in Berakas today and the hosts are in only two events.

Farina Afida beat Labuan's Cheah Ann Yee in the women's single 21-3, 21-5 yesterday to book her berth in the last four of the women's single at 9:30 today morning.

She will meet Sabah's Soong Fie Cho for a place in the final. Soong beat Kalimantan's Sandarawati Wijaua 21-13, 16,-21, 21-19 to book her berth.

Teaming up with Siti Marinah in the women's doubles, Farina beat Cheah and Ester Lee Yik Chung 21-14, 21-8 yesterday.

The Bruneians will face Ringtan Apriliani and Lidiawati of Kalimantan in the semis at 10:30 today morning.

The Indonesians beat Yvonne Ong Sing Er and Adrina Ays'ha Anscelly of Sabah 21-16, 21-15 to make it to the last four.

Farina and Siti were the second Bruneian pair to make it to the quarter-finals - though the six other Bruneians did not fare so well.

One of the Sultanate's brightest hopes, Jasper Yu Woon Chai was knocked out of the men's singles after losing 21-16, 21-19 to Sabahan Datu Mohd Shahrin.

Also competing in the men's double, Yu teamed up with Ak Abd Halim Al Hakim but fell to the Sarawakian pair of Liew Chee Ing and Vong Xiang Wei 21-11, 21-16.

The other men's double pairing of Md Syazwan Faiz and Md Syamil Faiz lost to Kalimantan's Yusuf Ahmad and Rihart Noverati 21-12, 21-23, 21-9.

Noor Azura fell 21-11, 21-10 to Sabah's Flor Ng Sien Fong in the women's singles.

Noor Azura and Noorekma lost to Kalimantan's Wijaya and Indarti Isolina 21-7, 21-9 in the women's doubles.

Both of the country's shuttlers in the mixed doubles failed to make it past their respective opponents.

Md Syazwan and Siti lost 21-13, 21-2 to Kalimantan's Sqi Setiawan and Isolina while Md Dzakawan Saifullah and Nor Nekmah Rainah fell 21-6, 21-14 to Kalimantan's Yusuf and Lidiawati Limanto.

The men's single semi-finals will take place at 9am while the men's double semi-finals will be contested an hour later.

The battle for the bronze medal will take place at 2:30pm, while the final for all events will start at 9am tomorrow.

The country had won the bronze in the men's and women's team events on Wednesday. The women's team of Noor Azura, Farina, Noor Nekma and Siti Marinah (singles) defeated Labuan 3-0.

The men's team, composed of Yu, Md Syazwan Faiz, Md Syahmil Fajirin and Ak A Halim, also beat Labuan 3-0.

Courtesy from Brunei Times