It's Indonesia vs China in Milo Open badminton finals
It's Indonesia vs China in Milo Open badminton finals
Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post/Denpasar
The cream of local junior talent will take on the world's best
for all five singles and doubles crowns at the Milo Junior
Indonesia Open badminton championships on Saturday.
In Friday's boys' semifinals, Lu Qicheng, the top Asian junior
champion, was able to stave off Andreas Adityawarman in a tough
first game, winning 15-12, 15-3.
Lu quickly trailed 6-10 in the first game, but used his
powerful smash to take control.
He meets second seed Fauzi Adnan, who overcame Sakti Kusuma
15-11, 16-17, 15-6. It was a tough fight in the first two games,
with Sakti appearing exhausted in the decider.
Fauzi said he had an even chance to win on Saturday. "Lu is a
very good player, I'll do my best to beat him in the final."
Lu beat Fauzi in the semifinals of the Asian Junior Badminton
Championship 15-7, 8-15, 15-5 two weeks ago in Jakarta.
As with many players during the week, Indonesia's 5/8th seed
Pia Zebadiah was troubled by the drafty stadium, losing the first
game to love before upsetting 3/4th seed Bellaetrix Manuputty 0-
11, 11-6, 11-1.
Pia kept her composure to take the second game, and dominated
in the decider.
"I was tired after playing a mixed doubles semifinal earlier
in the day," Pia said. "I just kept trying to win the match
against Bela, although I feel dizzy now."
Pia said she was not intimidated at playing Wang Yihan, the
top seed and Asian junior runner-up.
"She is tall and has very penetrating shots," Pia said of
Wang, who beat Indonesian fourth seed Aprilia 11-4, 11-1. "But I
also have my own strengths."
In the mixed doubles, Indonesia's Bona Septano/Pia Zebadiah
advanced to the final by defeating Rio Willianto/N. Kesya 15-7,
15-10.
They meet Chinese top seeds Li Tian/Ma Jin, who beat
Indonesia's Ahmad Tantowi/Dining 15-9, 10-15, 15-12.
Ahmad/Dining came close to causing an upset and setting up an
all-Indonesian final, but were unable to close it out when
leading 12-8 in the final game.
In the girls' doubles, Indonesian pair Nintya
Krishinda/Yulianti defeated Malaysian pair Woon Khe Wai/Ho Bee
Ling 15-6, 15-2. They will meet China's Ma Jin/Liu Lian.
In boys' doubles, Li Tian/Hu Wenqing of China outlasted Rio
Willianto/Devin Prawidsa of Indonesia 15-11, 15-11. They take on
Bona Septano/Muhammad Ahsan of Indonesia in the final.