Months after injury, Karono Karono is back on top.
The Australian led the way with victory in the men’s singles final at the YONEX South Australia International, defeating Choi Pyeong Gang 21-18, 14-21, 13-3 after Choi retired in the third game.
Karono went into the final with a clear plan. “I always think about the gameplay and how to be effective when I play,” he said. “I didn’t want any long rallies because my stamina and body were not really fit today.” After taking the first game, he found himself under pressure in the second, when Choi lifted the pace and played more aggressively. “Maybe I wasn’t ready,” Karono admitted. He adjusted in the decider, slowing the tempo and taking control of the front court. “I didn’t want to play long, just short to get the shuttle to lift so I could attack more.”
The win is his second title of the year and a welcome one after his injury. “I’m so very happy and so grateful,” he said. “After the injury, I’m very happy.”
A Korean Sweep
The remaining events were a Korean sweep, and no one had a busier day than Yeon Seo Yeon, who contested two finals and left with two gold medals.
In the women’s doubles, she partnered Kim So Hee against Jo Yoo Na/Ko Hee Joo. The pair made quick work of the first game but faced more resistance in the second, holding on through a late charge to win 21-6, 21-19. It was the first time they had paired up and prepared together, which made the result more pleasing. “We clicked better than expected and achieved a great result,” said Yeon, who was “at a loss for words” at having played alongside So Hee for the first time.
Yeon was equally dominant in the mixed doubles. Alongside Park Seung Min, she made Kim Sung Un/Jo Yoo Na work for every point, and the pair secured gold in less than 30 minutes with a 21-15, 21-14 win. “Even though I’m a bit tired, I’m happier than words can express,” she said of her two titles.
Park also doubled up, teaming with Cheon Ji Min in the men’s doubles. The pair looked poised to run away with the match after taking the first game 21-11, but opponents Moon Hee Cho/Yong Hee Lee turned the tide in the second to force a decider. Cheon/Park prevailed 21-11, 15-21, 21-14, and Park finished his Adelaide campaign with two gold medals.
The women’s singles final also went the distance, with Kim Do Yeon defeating Lee Da Hyun 17-21, 21-10, 21-12. Facing a compatriot made it tougher, she said, because “we know each other’s weaknesses so well.” Even so, she felt she managed the match well. She was critical of her own game, though. “I was leading the first game and then got caught and lost,” she said. “I am really disappointed with my own score management.”
The title is Kim’s first at an open international tournament. “I feel so great,” she said. “It still hasn’t really sunk in yet.”
What’s Next
After a couple of days’ downtime, many of the players will take to the court at MSAC for the YONEX Melbourne International 2026 from 18 – 22 November.
