This year’s Hylo Open is about to end. Finals day will only have Asian players fighting to become champions.
Players headed today to Saarlandhalle in Saarbrücken on this semifinals day with one mission and one mission only: to make it to the finals. No one was ready to give up, but all matches have been played and now we know who will have the opportunity of becoming the new champions of the Hylo Open.
Indonesia, the country with more contenders
World number one men’s doubles pair Marcus Fernaldi Gideon/ Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo were the first ones on court to play against Supak Jomkoh/ Kittinupong Kedren. It took the Indonesian pair 30 minutes to get the win, 21-17 21-16.
- We are happy with our performance. We loved the crowd here, it motivated us more, Sukamuljo said.
There was a big group of Indonesians in the crowd today, and together with the locals they all created a vibrant atmosphere that made the experience of top-level badminton matches even better. Fans of Indonesian badminton had even more reasons to celebrate, as the Minions’ win meant that men’s doubles would have an all-Indonesian final.
Leo Rolly Carnado/ Daniel Marthin faced fellow Indonesians Pramudya Kusumawardana/ Yeremia Erich Yoche Yacob Rambitan and won in straight games, 21-17 21-13. The third Indonesian pair that will be in the finals is that of Praveen Jordan/ Melati Daeva Oktavianti, who continue on the run to become champions with a win against Thailand’s Supak Jomkoh/ Supissara Paewsampran.
Hard yet rewarding day
However, Thailand also has some players that could still take the gold. There was a Thailand versus Thailand encounter today between Busanan Ongbamrungphan and Phittayaporn Chaiwan. Ongbamrungphan lost the first game but bounced back to win the second and take the match to three games, to then win, 16-21, 21-17, 21-18.
Dechapol Puavaranukroh/ Sapsiree Taerattanachai will also be in the finals. The duo beat Rinov RIivaldy/ Pitha Haningtyas Mentari, Indonesia, 22-20 21-14. More countries with two representatives each will be Singapore and Japan.
The latter will have an all-Japanese women’s doubles final. Rin Iwanaga/ Kie Nakanishi and Chisato Hoshi/ Aoi Matsuda will be meeting to take the title. Hoshi/ Matsuda had the longest match today against Thailand’s Jongkolphan Kititharakul/ Rawinda Prajongjai, with the Japanese pair losing the first game but coming back stronger for the second to then keep it going for them to win, 14-21, 23-21, 21-19.
Finals (in order of play)
WD Chisato Hoshi/ Aoi Matsuda vs Rin Iwanaga/ Kie Nakanishi
MD Marcus Fernaldi Gideon/ Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo vs Leo Rolly Carnado/ Daniel Marthin
WS Yeo Jia Min vs Busanan Ongbamrungphan
XD Dechapol Puavaranukroh/ Sapsiree Taerattanachai vs Praveen Jordan/ Melati Daeva Oktavianti
MS Loh Kean Yew/ Lee Zii Jia