Chinese juniors edge local talent in Milo Open badminton tournament

Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar

Host players took the boys' doubles and mixed doubles titles at the Milo Junior Indonesia Open on Saturday, but badminton powerhouse China got the upper hand in their rivalry.

With all five finals pitting local players against Chinese, the latter collected the boys and girls singles crowns as well as the girls' doubles in closely fought contests.

Both Indonesian titles came from the talented members of one family, who were represented in a total of three finals.

Second seeded boys' doubles pairs Bona Septano/Muhammad Ahsan of Indonesia upset top seed doubles pairs Li Tian/Hu Wenqing of China 13-15, 15-10, 15-7.

The Indonesians, a new pairing for the tournament, let slip their chances in the first game, having led 12-8 and 13-10, but were not about to be denied the trophy.

"In the first game, we let up on our offense when we took the 13-10 lead and lost," said Bona, who is the younger brother of national player Markis Kidho and the older brother of girls' player Pia Zebadiah.

"But in the second and third games, we didn't let them attack us, we just kept the shuttlecock as low as possible."

Ahsan said he played with nothing to lose against the formidable Chinese.

Bona and Pia, seeded 3/4th seed in the mixed doubles, brought home the country's second title with another surprise, edging number one seeds Li Tian/Ma Jin 15-12, 14-17, 17-15.

But the Chinese were too strong in the marquee singles events.

In boys' singles, Asian junior champion and top seed Lu Qicheng overcame second seeded Fauzi Adnan 15-13, 9-15, 15-10.

It was a battle throughout, with Fauzi fighting his way back into the match from big deficits, including from 3-9 to 10 all in the first game, and from 1-5 down in the second.

Lu went ahead 12-2 in the third, and Fauzi mounted another comeback, reaching 10-13. As with their encounter at the Asian Junior Championships in Jakarta two weeks ago, Lu had just enough energy to squeeze out the victory.

In the girls' singles, top seeded Wang Yihan beat 5/8th seed Pia 11-7, 11-8 in a tight contest.

China wrapped up its hat trick of wins when top seeded doubles pair Ma Jin/Liu Lian of China defeated second seeds Nintya Krishinda/Yulianti of Indonesia 15-5, 17-14.