(SCGS' shuttlers pose with their champions' trophy after a stellar perfect season. Photo Credit: Kenneth Tan) 

By Kenneth Tan

Having to settle for second place after a 3-2 loss to CHIJ St Nicholas Girls� School (Secondary) in 2021, Singapore Chinese Girls� School (SCGS) made sure there was no repeat this year. That was after clinching a resounding 5-0 win over Xinmin Secondary School, in the grand final of the B Division Girls� North Zone Badminton Championships on Tuesday (26 April) afternoon.

(Xinmin Sec Sch team has every reason to smile, having achieved their first North Zone final appearance since 2012. Photo Credit: Kenneth Tan) 

With that, they rounded off an incredible perfect campaign in which they won all 7 ties � from the preliminaries all the way to the final � without dropping a single game.

(For all the news, post-match interview videos, stories, photos, fanzone details and much more from the 2022 National School Games, do visit our website : go.gov.sg/nationalschoolgames)

(Rivals on the court, friends off it! Xinmin Secondary and SCGS' shuttlers pose for a group photo after the final. Photo Credit: Kenneth Tan) 

At the Indoor Sports Hall of Canberra Secondary School, SCGS� Isabelle Koh got off to a fine start in the first singles with some powerful and well-measured smashes to clinch the first set 21-11. While Xinmin�s Jacintha Toh fought back well in the 2nd set to lead 18-16, the former held her nerve and won five straight points to prevail 21-18 and draw first blood for her school.

Post-match interview with SCGS� vice-captain Reann Wandaga Foo (left) and captain, Avril Yau. Video Credit: Kenneth Tan

In the subsequent first doubles, SCGS� Avril Yau and Cheng Sher-Mae won the first set 21-12 with some great combination play and perfectly-angled shots. However, Xinmin�s Yolanda Thio and Phaedra Chong displayed superb fighting spirit to take the 2nd set 24-22. It continued to be a mighty tussle in the all-crucial rubber set, with Avril and Sher-Mae eventually coming through 22-20 to put SCGS 2-0 up.

(Xinmin's Yolanda Thio and Phaedra Chong put up a strong fight in the first doubles despite losing. Photo Credit: Kenneth Tan) 

SCGS� Tricia Hu faced a tough battle in the second singles as well, as she had to come back from an 8-1 deficit to win the opening set 22-20. Xinmin�s Anne Wong continued to impress and took the 2nd set 21-18, but errors crept into her game in the third set with the former capitalising to win 21-17 and seal the victory for SCGS.

The last 2 match-ups still have to be played �in the spirit of the game� with Eleanor Chan and Mazel Ng defeating Verone Lim and Nicole Yim 21-11, 21-13. And Elisabeth Kam won 21-7, 21-16 against Rayanne Chua to seal an overall 5-0 victory for SCGS!

(SCGS's Isabelle Koh gets ready to serve in the first singles. Photo Credit: Kenneth Tan) 

Despite the loss, the Xinmin girls can hold their heads up high � having surpassed last year�s 3rd-placed finish and reaching their first North Zone final since 2012.

Meanwhile, dethroned champions CHIJ St Nicholas Girls� School (Secondary) gave themselves something to cheer about, as they edged Bowen Secondary School 3-2 in a concurrent match to clinch the bronze medal in the B Div North Zone.

(For all the news, post-match interview videos, stories, photos, fanzone details and much more from the 2022 National School Games, do visit our website : go.gov.sg/nationalschoolgames)