DJARUM INDONESIA OPEN FINALS - Indian Summer Begins in Jakarta

Monday, 22 June 2009 02:36

Everyone hoped badminton history would be made at the Istora Senayan by Indonesian's Olympic, World, Asian and 6-times Indonesia Open champion Taufik Hidayat. No one expected it to come true in women's singles. Four recent World Junior Champions featured in 3 finals on Sunday night - Wang Lin, Saina Nehwal, Ma Jin, and Lee Yong Dae -but only three of these could triumph.

By Ira Ratnati and Aaron Wong, Badzine Correspondents. Photos: Badmintonphoto (live)

Women's Singles: First Kiss

They say you always remember your first kiss and how special it is. The badminton equivalent in is a moment like this. Nineteen year old, Saina Nehwal of India (pictured above), caused a sensation when she won 12-21, 21-18, 21-9 over her Chinese opponent Wang Lin. Nehwal becomes the first Indian, woman or man, to have a Super Series event credited next to her name and and only the third Indian ever to win a tournament of this stature.

Her previous milestone was, aged fifteen, beating then world #1-for-a-week Xu Huaiwen (GER) for the Phillipines Open title. Xu Huaiwen wasn't wrong when she said the youngster would go on to big things.

Nehwal was pure elation and flung her racquet into the spectator stands to repay them for their deafening cheers in her favour. By her own admission, she had not warmed up well enough and failed to register an impression in the first game but having the crowd behind her made the difference in the remainder of the match.

“This is one big dream come true, and with what I’ve done today, I hope India will have more athletes. I’ll probably celebrate my winning by shopping,” she laughed.

Nehwal’s coach Atiek Djauhari made more bold predictions since all the old ones have come true. She always targeted making it to the top 5 by next year but with this result will accelerate that. And, according to the Xinhua News Agency, he expects her to become world #1 next year.

Women's Doubles: Two Birds, One Stone

In women's doubles, Malaysians Chin Ee Hui / Wong Pei Tty (pictured) achieved a personal best too. This is their first Indonesia Open title in two appearances in the finals this decade, and their confidence started to settle in after they removed the Olympic silver medallists Lee Kyung Won / Lee Hyo Jung at the quarter-final stage.

Since the beginning of the year, Chin/Wong's mission has been to prove that they deserve the world #1 ranking and also to defeat Chinese pairs. After six months without even a semi-final appearance, with this victory, they killed two birds with one stone.

They cruised to a straight-game win over world #2 and second seeds Cheng Shu / Zhao Yunlei of China 21-16, 21-16 and picked up a cheque of US$18,750 for their efforts.

Mixed Doubles: Creeping out of Gao's Shadow

Zheng Bo (pictured partnering Ma Jin), of China, has achieved the remarkable feat of defending his mixed doubles title for a third year in row. Having added these to his 2003 men's doubles title, Zheng is now one of only three non-Indonesians - including his former partner Gao Ling - to have won four titles in Indonesia.

This result proves his versatility not only across disciplines and partnerships, but also in being able to assume the dominant and thoughtful role in the combination which Gao Ling used to helm. Quite simply, a master of both yin and yang roles.

Zheng revealed that the key to winning his final was a high level of confidence. “I am playing with my new partner. That is an advantage for us as no one has figured out how we play together. The next target is the World Championships.”

The new pair once again overcame Olympic gold medallists Lee Hyo Jung / Lee Yong Dae 21-17, 8-21, 21-16 and, with their third straight Super Series title, they continue their march toward the top of the rankings table, where they currently stand seventh based on their results in only six tournaments.

Men's Doubles: Catch Me If You Can

Lee Yong Dae once again earned the right and responsibility to do double-duty, as is becoming a habit as he has been active on the final Sunday at five of the last eight Super Series events. In fact, it's been his lot 14 times since his junior days and he's only once been denied the top podium spot in both events in one day.

True to form, then, the Koreans had no intention of coming runner-up to Chinese opponents twice in the one night, and they captured the men's doubles title 21-15, 21-18. Lee Yong Dae / Jung Jae Sung (pictured) forced Fu Haifeng / Cai Yun to play catch up 8 times and then further denied China's combination time after time the chance to strive ahead.

“We were confident of winning the second game after what was happened in the first. We felt comfortable whereas the Chinese looked frustrated and made more mistakes than us” remarked the younger man, Lee.

“We think the semis were tougher. Yong Dae kept asking me to chill when we had bad line calls in the second game,” added Jung.

Men's Singles: Not Yet 7

In the most anticipated match of the week precisely because Indonesia's Taufik Hidayat reached the final, it was a battle of best friends. With little fanfare surrounding him all week, as is his ideal preparation, the Malaysian world #1 Lee Chong Wei (pictured here with Taufik) rose to the challenge of winning the tournament against the home favourite 21-9, 21-14 and later echoed Zheng Bo's sentiment.

“I defended more today, and just try to stay focused on the game. Winning (here) is a good sign for me in facing the World Championships,” explained Lee during his press conference.

Hidayat did not shy away from reporters afterwards. “I have to admit that Lee was more ready for the match. I’m a little bit disappointed with the result. I was just one more step away from the seventh but then I’ve failed. But, that’s the (nature of the) game."

Taufik Hidayat is not alone in his plight of an Indonesian stopped short of a global headline victory. Hendrawan looked like he might win gold at the Sydney Olympics but didn't, and the same with Fung Permadi (representing Taiwan at the time) for the 1999 World Championships. Hidayat said nothing of retiring so the chance for a seventh title remains there. He is not even 28 years old whereas Peter Gade is 32 and world #2.

Hidayat can console himself that in a tournament featuring 5 out of 6 Beijing and Athens medallists, all of whom are still in the top 10, he reached the final so questions of his relevance to today's badminton scene have been answered. It was his week to beat the the world #2 but not the world #1.

A Worthy Spectacle

Boasting the most exceptional cast so far for a Super Series this year, 2009's Indonesia Open has shown both surprising finalists and gripping finals, with mixed doubles the most predictable outcome despite being the only official upset.

Indonesia came away empty-handed in their home Super Series for only the second time ever, Malaysia's two world #1s delivered the two shortest matches of the day, and India stole the limelight, in a day when none of the players underestimated or were overwhelmed by their Chinese opponents. In all, it was a showcase event worthy of badminton's most celebrated audience.

For complete results from the 2009 Djarum Indonesia Open Super Series, please CLICK HERE

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