One name continues to gain traction in Oceania and beyond. Often, it’s met with the same question, “Is she really that young?” Today, Amy Wang pushed the conversation even further.
In a highly anticipated WS R32 match at the VICTOR Oceania Championships, the 14-year-old Kiwi took on the number three seed and BWF World Championships qualifier, Kai Qi (Bernice) Teoh.
Teoh immediately surged to the lead, but Wang slowly gained her composure.
“I tried not to be nervous because she’s a good player and she’s been to many international and big tournaments,” she said. “But when I stepped on court, I was still a bit nervous because I really wanted to win. I just started to focus on the game more instead of everything else that was going through my mind.”
Throughout Teoh’s continous attacks, the teenager’s resolved remained unwavered. Over 36 minutes, Wang’s relentless playstyle paid off. The New Zealander stepped off the court with a well-deserved 21-16, 21-19 win.
Top seeds Shaunna Li (NZL) and Tiffany Ho (AUS) both progressed to the next round. While Li led from beginning to end, Ho bounced back from a tough second game to keep her campaign alive.
Mixed Doubles
It was a family affair in the mixed doubles, as brothers Ephraim and Emmanuel Stephen Sam found themselves on opposite sides of the court. The first game was close, with leads changing and long rallies. Yet, the second was where Ephraim’s experience showed. Alongside his partner, Maureen Wijaya, the pair pushed to a convincing lead. They took the win over younger brother Emmanual and Smrithi Adepu 21-19, 21-14.
Dylan Soedjasa/Justine Villegas (NZL) showed their experience in their match against Shih-Yuan Lim (AUS)/Amy Wang (NZL). Controlling the match from the start, the Kiwi pair stormed to a comfortable 21-11, 21-12 win. With the composure Soedjasa/Villegas are showing, it will take something special to shake them.
Tahiti’s Antoine Beaubois/Heirautea showed immense grit to come back from a 21-14 first game in the R32. Even throughout the second, they found themselves trailing against Australia’s Stephan Shen/Hao (Angela) Shen. Yet, their ability to rise to the occasion saw them claw back to a 14-21, 21-15, 21- win.
Men’s Singles
In the men’s singles, all the favourites remain in medal contention.
The match between Lucas Quin (NZL) and Ricky Tang (AUS) was a trans-Tasman clash where the third seed showed why he’s one of the best. Qin put forward a hearty fight but was ultimately outperformed by a clinical Tang, who won the match 21-6, 21-7.
Jack Yu and Edward Lau also both cruised through their matches in straight games.
The match between Shrey Dhand (AUS) and Aneesh Nirmal (AUS) is a contender for match of the day. A memorable three game match, the score doesn’t tell the full story. While Dhand came away with the convincing third game win, Nirmal made him work for it, pushing him to the end. Final score 21-17, 19-21, 21-10.
An all-Australian rollercoaster encounter was on display between Caleb Teo and Pit Seng Low. Low took the close first game at 21-17, with Teo upping the intensity in the second to take it 21-15. In the third game, Teo showed his class. At only 18 years of age, the Kiwi showed an incredible maturity to take the final game 21-11.
Men’s Doubles
The Round of 32 will be saturated with Australians and New Zealanders, along with a couple of Pacific pairs.
Siaosi Cowan/Edward Patai were the victors of a Cook Islands-Fiji clash against Yi Fei Cao/Siman Lin, winning 21-12, 21-11.
The match between Rauhiri Goguenheim/Mike Mi You (TAH) and Shiqi Tong/Leo Tian Le Xu (NZL) may have only lasted two games, but it was as close as they get. The Tahiti pair played a mental game of tug-of-war with their opponents, as the leads switched throughout the match. However, when it came down to the key moments, the ability for the Kiwis to convert under pressure shone through. Tong/Xu snuck away with the 24-22, 21-19 win.
The top seeds will enter the competition in tomorrow’s round of 32.
“We take the pressure pretty well,” Beaubois said after their R64 match. “For the nextg matches we will apply the same tactics, be better, and take the temperature again and again.”
Women’s Doubles
Three women’s doubles matches were played today. Notably, Faye Huo/Jesslyn Carrisa (AUS), who both got the call up for their first Australian senior team, played their first doubles match together. They looked strong and connected on court as they cruised to a 21-8, 21-12 win over Olympe Darcheville/Julie Wongsodjirono (NCL).
