Odense, Denmark – Kento Momota (JPN) and Marcus F. Gideon and Kevin S. Sukamuljo (INA) continued to add to their impressive hardware collections from the 2019 World Tour, while building on their leads against competitors in their respective categories. It was Momota’s eighth Tour win this year – and his fourth consecutive since winning the World Championships – while it makes six for Gideon and Sukamuljo. In women’s doubles, Baek Ha Na (KOR), 19, won in her first Tour Final appearance, alongside partner Jung Kyung Eun (KOR).
Momota faced a resurgent Chen Long in the finals, who held the slimmest lead in their head-to-head record, 5-4. But Momota, who has not lost a match since July, seemed destined to even that score at this meeting. In the first game, while the lead changed hands a few times, it would be mostly Chen out front until 14-all. From there, Momota found his imperturbable rhythm, and won the next seven points uninterrupted to take the game. The second game never saw Momota surrender the lead, winning 21-14, 21-12.
In the latest edition of the Minons vs the Daddies (Gideon and Sukamuljo have met, and defeated, compatriots Mohammad Ahsan and Hendra Setiawan in five finals this year), it was the same story all over again, if not quicker than usual. This time it took Gideon and Sukamuljo just 28 minutes to secure gold at 21-14, 21-13.
In the most exciting, and most oft-interrupted final of the day, Korean women’s doubles pair Baek Ha Na and Jung Kyung Eun battled for one hour and twenty-three minutes against Chinese duo Chen Qing Chen and Jia Yi Fan. After dropping the first game at just 9-21, they fought back from 10-15 down to win the second. Then, in a pitched battle in the third, the fire alarm went off at 7-6, and all players, audience and officials were forced to evacuate the building. It was fortunately a false alarm and play resumed again after just ten minutes … at least until the Koreans were up match point, when the alarm went off again. This time it was quickly identified again as a false alarm, and Baek and Jung were able to seal their victory, 9-21, 21-19, 21-15.
Full match results
Kento Momota: ASTROX 99, AEROBITE, POWER CUSHION 65 Z 2
Kevin S. Sukamuljo: ASTROX 88 S, AEROBITE BOOST, POWER CUSHION 65 Z 2
Marcus F. Gideon: ASTROX 88 D, BG65 TITANIUM, POWER CUSHION AERUS 3
Baek Ha Na: ASTROX 88 S, BG80, POWER CUSHION AERUS 3
Jung Kyung Eun: NANOFLARE 700, AEROBITE, POWER CUSHION 65 Z
Photos: Badminton Photo