BALI, Indonesia – Two-thirds of the Indonesian Badminton Festival came to a close with the SimInvest Indonesia Open finals this past Sunday, where Team Yonex took the champion title in all 5 categories. Remaining in Bali from Dec 1st – Dec 5th is the HSBC BWF World Tour Finals where Yonex will continue to support the world’s best athletes with the expertise of the Yonex Stringing Team, as well as with premium on-court equipment such as court mats, net poles and shuttlecocks.
The highlight for the local fans was the men’s doubles rematch between Marcus Gideon / Kevin Sukamuljo (INA) and Takuro Hoki / Yugo Kobayashi (JPN). Despite having seen defeat at the Indonesia Masters finals, Kevin and Marcus showed only confidence with each shot, securing a three-peat title at the Indonesia Open with the score of 21-14, 21-18.
In women’s doubles, we saw Nami Matsuyama / Chiharu Shida (JPN) take on the Tokyo Olympic Gold Medalists, Greysia Polii / Apriyani Rahayu (INA). Keeping the heat and momentum from the Indonesia Masters, Matsuyama and Shida once again became champions with the score of 21-19, 21-19.
An Se Young (KOR) and Ratchanok Intanon (THA) faced each other for the third time, where the previous two matches left the two players even with one victory each. Ratchanok showed promise with her precise, calculated rallies but An Se Young managed to withstand each shot, converting the rallies to points. An Se Young also secured her second title in the Bali bubble finishing 21-17, 22-20.
Sapsiree Taerattanachai / Dechapol Puavaranukroh (THA) have had a tremendous year since the Thailand bubble in January, but odds were against them with mixed doubles Olympic Bronze Medalists, Yuta Watanabe / Arisa Higashino (JPN) on the opposing end. The Thai pair focused on staying on the offense, forcing error to the opponents. Winning for the first time after 5 total match-ups, Sapsiree and Dechapol celebrated with the final score of 21-12, 21-13.
The final match of the day was in men’s singles with Olympic Gold Medalist, Viktor Axelsen (DEN) versus Loh Kean Yew (SGP). Viktor was the clear favorite having maintained a strong performance all year, but Loh Kean Yew managed to challenge him and push the match into the final game. Calculating the draft in the arena, Viktor used his preferred end of the court and kicked off the third game strong 11-5. Maintaining momentum, Viktor claimed his fourth Super 1000 title at 21-13, 9-21, 21-13.
PLAYER EQUIPMENT:
- Marcus Fernaldi Gideon | ASTROX 88 D PRO, BG 65 TITANIUM, AERUS Z
- Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo | ASTROX 88 S PRO, AEROBITE BOOST, POWER CUSHION 65 Z 3
- Takuro Hoki | ASTROX 100 ZZ, BG80 POWER, AERUS Z
- Yugo Kobayashi | DUORA Z-STRIKE, BG80 POWER, AERUS Z
- Nami Matsuyama | NANOFLARE 700, NANOGY 95
- Chiharu Shida | NANOFLARE 800, NANOGY 95, POWER CUSHION 65 Z 3
- An Se Young | ASTROX 77, MICRON 80, 75th POWER CUSHION AERUS Z
- Ratchanok Intanon | NANOFLARE 700, BG 65 TITANIUM, 75th POWER CUSHION AERUS Z
- Sapsiree Taerattanachai | ASTROX 88 S, AEROBITE BOOST, POWER CUSHION 65 Z 3
- Dechapol Puavaranukroh | DUORA 10LT, AEROBITE BOOST, POWER CUSHION 65 Z 3
- Arisa Higashino | NANOFLARE 700, EXBOLT 63, POWER CUSHION 65 Z 2
- Viktor Axelsen | ASTROX 100 ZZ, MICRON 80, POWER CUSHION 65 Z 3