Team Yonex athletes enjoyed an incredibly successful Indoniesan Open in Jakarta, claiming an incredible four titles in the five categories being played out. At one of only three Super 1000-level tournaments to be played in the Badminton calendar, Team Yonex claimed both the Men's and Women's Singles as well as the Men's and Women's Doubles.
Yuki Fukushima and Sayaka Hirota (JPN) set the opening pace, besting compatriots and team veterans Misaki Matsutomo and Ayaka Takahashi in straight games, 21-16, 21-18. Fukushima/Hirota now can claim six of the two pairs’ nine meetings. In a women’s doubles field crowded by Japanese pairs, where each country can only send two, every point counts in the runup to the 2020 Olympic Games.
Up next in women’s singles, Akane Yamaguchi (JPN) was in top form and chalked up her second World Tour win of the year. After knocking off World No.1 Tai Tsu Ying in the semis, she bested Pusarla V. Sindhu in the finals, 21-15, 21-16.
The match of the day however undoubtedly went to Chou Tien Chen(TPE). Over more than 90 minutes, he battled point for point with Denmarks’s Anders Antonsen. After fighting his way to take the first game, 21-18, Antonsen contested the second game, eventually winning it 26-24. But Chen incredibly dug deep and found a second reserve of stamina, winning the last game at 21-15. After deciding match point, both players collapsed to the court.
Finally, home favorites Kevin S. Sukamuljo and Marcus F. Gideon (INA) took on fellow Indonesians Mohammad Ahsan and Hendra Setiawan. In less than half an hour, Sukamuljo and Gideon sealed the win, 21-19, 21-16, three-peating the tournament.
Up next, The Daihatsu YONEX Japan Open begins tomorrow.
Full match results
Fukushima Hirota: ASTROX 88 D, NANOGY 95, POWER CUSHION 65 Z
Sayaka Hirota: ASTROX 88 S, NANOGY 95, POWER CUSHION AERUS 3
Akane Yamaguchi: ASTROX 77, BG66 ULTIMAX, POWER CUSHION 65 Z 2
Chou Tien Chen: DUORA Z-STRIKE, BG80, POWER CUSHION 65 Z WIDE
Kevin S. Sukamuljo: ASTROX 88 S, AEROBITE BOOST, POWER CUSHION 65 Z
Marcus F. Gideon: ASTROX 88 D, BG65 TITANIUM, POWER CUSHION AERUS 3