Mixed Doubles
The third seeds from Japan took charge in the first game with tumbling net shots, clever deception and counter attacks to find the gaps on court. The contest got more heated in the second game as Chang Ko-Chi was making up for his slow start, engaging in fast and flat exchanges while the pair tried to outmaneuver the Japanese duo and remove Minami from the net. Their change in tactics gained momentum and they forced a deciding game. While the Japanese duo showed glimpses of hope as they stayed within reach of Chang and Lee throughout, the pair from Chinese Taipei seemed more motivated to make up for their loss in last week’s semifinal and were elated to take the title in Bendigo.
- Chang Ko-Chi/Lee Chih Chen (TPE) vs Sumiya Nihei/Minami Asakura (JPN)[3] 16-21 21-18 21-17
“In the first game, I didn’t play very well but after the second game we made sure to communicate more and the coach correct our game so we play better. This has given us a lot of confidence and will encourage our future”, says Chang Ko-Chi.
“I kept telling myself that I can do it, we needed to keep supporting ourselves“, says Lee Chih Chen (Chinese Taiepi).
Women’s Doubles
Chang and Yang were looking to go one better than last week’s campaign in Sydney, where they lost in two quick games. Eager to seek revenge, they triumphed in the first game and led throughout the majority of the second. However, their third seeded and more experienced opponents enjoyed a three-point run while trailing 18-17 to eventually close in on the second. In the final game, Lee and Teng ran away with another six point lead to give them an advantage, closing in on a third title for 2022 (having won the Slovak and Austrian Open 2022 earlier this year).
- Lee Chia Hsin/Teng Chun Hsun (TPE)[3] vs Chang Ching Hui/Yang Ching Tun (TPE)[4] 19-21 22-20 21-14
“I’m so pleased we could win the gold medal”, says Lee Chia Hsin
“Because we have more experience, we had more ideas to fix any problems and win rallies. We didn’t think too much about the first game, we just had to change our tactics and adapt the game. Ultimately, we wish to play in the Olympic Games”, says Teng Chun Hsun.
Men’s Singles
Last week’s winner in Sydney, Lin Chun-Yi, has been in fantastic form all week having only dropped one game (which even then, he bounced back in emphatic fashion to win 21-5). This afternoon, he was able to add a fourth title to his 2022 collection. Both games were fiercely contended with little in it between the two players. Su Li Yang used his height and power to his advantage, but it wasn’t enough to get past the agile second seed.
- Lin Chun-Yi (TPE)[2] vs Su Li Yang (TPE)[6] 21-19 22-20
“I feel some pressure but this is my fourth title of the year, so I am very excited. I just try to make myself relaxed because if I am too stressed it affects my game. In the first game, I just tried to pile on the pressure, as my opponent was strong and he kept changing his game so I had to keep changing mine to adapt ”, says Lin Chun-Yi (Chinese Taipei)
“My necklace is my lucky charm, I have worn it for many years. It was given to me by my boss who created my future. When I see the necklace I remember that my boss told me to make a faith, trust yourself and never give up ”, says Lin Chun-Yi (Chinese Taipei)
Women’s Singles
Sung Shuo Yun’s form is getting more impressive as these tournaments progress, not forgetting the three tournaments she had leading up to Sydney and Bendigo, including a victory over the 2016 Olympic Champion, Carolina Marin in the YONEX Canada Open 2022 semifinal. While she went into this tournament as the second seed, she is technically the top ranked player in the draw following the latest rankings – bolstered by her recent tournament achievements and putting her only one position higher than today’s Vietnamese opponents (56, to Thuy Linh’s 57).
Today, she was able to hold off the challenge from Thuy Linh who fired with precision and power to the four corners of the court, with Sung finding the answers in the most crucial moments to take the victory. Just like Lin Chun-Yi, could she claim a clean sweep in Oceania’s tournaments? She’s already two thirds of the way there.
- Sung Shuo Yun (TPE)[2] vs Thuy Linh Nguyen (VIE)[1] 21-19 21-15
“I always listen to my coach and follow his advice. I won’t put any pressure on myself for the match or the tournament, these are all opportunities to learn and improve my game. I’ve been playing in so many tournaments recently now my body is feeling tired so I will focus on recovery before next week in New Zealand”, says Sung Shuo Yun (Chinese Taipei)
Men’s Doubles
The fate for the players from Chinese Taipei was already sealed heading into this afternoon’s men’s doubles, having claimed all five gold medals in Sydney and Bendigo.
The all-Chinese Taipei men’s doubles final featured the twins and last week’s winners, Lee and Lee. At one game all, it seemed like the title was anyone’s for the taking as the match came right down to the wire. Ending the tournament in spectacular style as the deciding game went into extension, Chang Ko-Chi held his nerve as he served for a second gold medal in Bendigo.
- Chang Ko-Chi/Po Li-Wei (TPE)[3] vs Fang-Chih Lee/Fang-Jen Lee (TPE)[4] 21-15 14-21 22-20
“I’m very tired from all these games. We have to thanks our sponsors [Land Bank of Taiwan] who has supported my journey from a child “, says Chang Ko-Chi (Chinese Taipei)
“I’m glad we won the doubles champion. Because my partner won the mixed doubles I tried hard to cover the court because he is very tired. We know our opponents very well as we’re from the same group but we still have to be prepared to meet them on the international stage”, says Po Li-Wei (Chinese Taipei)
Check out Badminton Oceania’s Facebook page for more photos and videos from today’s final.
Next week
Many of the players from this week’s tournament will now travel to Auckland for next week’s VICTOR North Harbour International 2022, an International Challenge tournament. Play commences on Thursday 20 October and all matches on courts 1 and 2 will be available to watch on Badminton Oceania’s YouTube Channel.
