Indonesia’s Olympics champion Tontowi Ahmad-Liliyana Natsir nailed the elusive mixed doubles title in the BCA Indonesia with an upset 22-20, 21-15 win over top seeds and world No 1 Zheng Siwei-Chen Qingchen of China in the final on Sunday.
In the process the No 6 seeds ended a long running jinx which began in 2011 when they were beaten by China’s Zhang Nan-Zhao Yunlei. They reached the final again the following year but were again on the losing end – this time going down to Thailand’s Sudket Prapakamol-Saralee Thoungthongkam in the final.
It was also celebration time for India’s Olympian K.Srikanth in the men’s singles final. The Indian, ranked No 22, tamed Japanese qualifier Kazumasa Sakai 21-11, 21-19 in 37 minutes and in the process pocketed USD75,000 in prize money that came with the title.,
Japan’s unseeded Sayaka Sato upset fifth seed Sunh Ji-hyun of Korea for the women’s singles title. The Japanese, however, was taken the full distance before prevailing with a 21-13, 17-21, 21-14 win in 78 minutes.
China ended Europe’s challenge in Jakarta when China’s Li Junhui-Liu Yuchen defeated Denmark’s Mathias Boe-Carsten Mogensen 21-19, 19-21, 21-18 for the men’s doubles title.
The women’s doubles title also went to China with Chen Qingchen-Jia Yifan defeating third seeds Chang Ye-na-Lee So-hee of Korea 21-1,15-21, 21-10 in the final.
RESULTS (ALL FINALS)
Men’s singles
Srikanth (Ind) beat Kazumasa Sakai (Jpn) 21-11, 21-19
Men’s Doubles
Li Junhui-Liu Yuchen (Chn) beat Mathias Boe-Carsten Mogensen (Den) 21-19, 19-21, 21-18
Women’s Singles
Sayaka Sato (Jpn) beat Sung Ji-hyun (Kor) 21-13, 17-21, 21-14
Women’s Doubles
Chen Qingchen-Jia Yifan (Chn) beat Chang Ye-na-Lee So-hee (Kor) 21-19, 15-21, 21-10
Mixed Doubles
Tontowi Ahmad-Liliyana Natsir (Ina) beat Zheng Siwei-Chen Qingchen (Chn) 22-20, 21-15
