As the CENTURY INSURANCE Saipan International entered its third day, the intensity on court continued to build. With semifinal spots on the line, players returned with renewed focus and determination, many facing familiar opponents from last week’s CROWNE PLAZA Northern Marianas Open. The day was marked by thrilling rematches, tactical battles, and standout performances across all categories. From nail-biting three-game duels to dominant displays of control, the action showcased the level of competition at this year’s edition of the tournament.
MATCH RECAPS
MIXED DOUBLES:
The mixed doubles quarterfinals saw a series of CROWNE PLAZA Northern Marianas Open rematches.
First on the court was the Kiwi duo of Edward Lau/Shaunna Li. They faced the pair that kicked them out of last week’s competition—Haruki Kawabe/Kokona Ishikawa (JPN).
This time around, Kawabe/Ishikawa flipped the script. Pressing immediately, the Japanese pair edged out their opponents to take the first game. Lau/Li responded. Quickly in the second, they pushed to a lead; however, the interval gave Kawabe/Ishikawa time to refocus.
In the end, the partners from Japan closed out the match 16-14, 15-13 to take their second straight win over the New Zealanders.
CROWNE PLAZA Northern Marianas Open champions Akira Koga/Yuho Imai (JPN) also revisited their semifinal opponents, Yu Hsiang Chou/Yuan Chi Liao (TPE). The Japanese pair held their nerves and tactics to claim a 15-10, 15-13 win over a charging Chou/Liao.
MEN’S SINGLES:
Yudai Okimoto (JPN) held on to defeat compatriot Toma Noda (JPN) in a thrilling match. Okimoto dominated most of the match, but Noda surged late in the game to score a flurry of points to close the gap. Despite this, Okimoto remained calm to close out the match 15-9, 15-10.
New Zealand’s Edward Lau also exits the competition after a narrow loss to Korea’s Ba Da Kim. In an impressive display of tenacity, Lau fought to stay in the match, but Kim forced a handful of errors to clinch the semifinal spot. The final score was 14-16, 15-10, 15-13.
WOMEN’S SINGLES:
Kanae Sakai’s standout performance launched her into the semifinals of the CENTURY INSURANCE Saipan International
Number one seed, Tanya Hemanth (IND), survived a tense showdown against Singapore’s Lee Xin Yi Megan. After narrowly losing the first game 14-16, the player from India dug deep to claim her spot in the next round of the tournament. She beat her opponent 14-16, 15-12, 15-9.
In another three-game thriller, Yue Yann Jaslyn Hooi (SPG) attempted to claw back the deficit she found herself in after the first game. Trailing Japan’s Kanae Sakai 13-15, she found her footing in the second game to force a third. Going point-for-point, it was nearly impossible to separate the two. The winner would be decided by who could keep their composure best, and it was Sakai who managed to come away with the win. She beat Hooi 15-8, 13-15, 15-13.
MEN’S DOUBLES:
You only need one word to describe all four men’s doubles matches. Intense. With three of the four matches going to three games, and the other match only won by the slimmest of margins, the competition could not have been any closer.
Notably, CROWNE PLAZA Northern Marianas Open winners, Kakeru Kumagai/Hiroki Nishi (JPN) were tested by Chinese Taipei’s Wei Chun Wei/Po Chih Yang. The fast-paced match saw points won quickly and powerfully, but it came down to the wire to find the winner. Eventually, the Japanese players prevailed, winning 13-15, 15-9, 15-12.
WOMEN’S DOUBLES:
Over 54 minutes, Japan’s Hinata Suzuki/Nao Yamakita tested the number one seeds, Teng Chun Hsun/Yang Chu Yun (TPE). In a series of long rallies, Teng/Yang showed their strength and skill, however, the Japanese players manipulated their opponents to find the gaps. This proved to be the deciding factor of the match as they won 15-12, 20-18, 15-11.
AN IMPORTANT STOP ON THE ROAD TO PARIS
Zilberman has been refining his game ahead of the TotalEnergies BWF World Championships 2025.
For many athletes, the Northern Marianas tournaments serve as more than just a competitive battleground—they’re a strategic stepping stone toward the prestigious TotalEnergies BWF World Championships 2025 in Paris.
With the global spotlight soon shifting to Europe, players like Edward Lau (NZL), Shaunna Li (NZL), Jack Yu (AUS), Misha Zilberman (ISR), Yue Yann Jaslyn Hooi (SGP), and the doubles pair Eng Keat Wesley Koh/Junsuke Kubo (SGP) are preparing to make the journey to the sport’s biggest stage.
Zilberman, who has used both Northern Marianas tournaments as part of his preparation, spoke about the value of this stop on the calendar. “These two tournaments are really strong,” he said. “There’s the possibility to play against some Asian players here and practice in between. The decision to come here was to prepare for the World Championships in a tournament setting.”
With competitive matches and a chance to test strategies under pressure, Saipan has offered Zilberman, and others bound for Paris, a meaningful opportunity to refine their game in a real-world setting.
The TotalEnergies BWF World Championships 2025 begins 25 August in France.
SEMIFINALISTS OVERVIEW
MIXED DOUBLES:
Haruki Kawabe/Kokona Ishikawa (JPN) vs. Kenta Matsukawa/Riko Kiyose (JPN)
An Yun Seong/Lee Yu Lim (KOR) vs. Akira Koga/Yuho Imai (JPN)
MEN’S SINGLES:
Ricki Takei (JPN) vs. Ba Da Kim (KOR)
Keita Makino (JPN) vs. Yudai Okimoto (JPN)
WOMEN’S SINGLES:
Tanya Hemanth (IND) vs. Ririna Hiramoto (JPN)
Kanae Sakai (JPN) vs. Niina Matsuta (JPN)
MEN’S DOUBLES:
Haruki Kawabe/Kenta Mastukawa (JPN) vs. Kakeru Kumagai/Hiroki Nishi (JPN)
Tori Aizawa/Daisuke Sano (JPN) vs. Naoya Kawashima/Akira Koga (JPN)
WOMEN’S DOUBLES:
Hinata Suzuki/Nao Yamakita (JPN) vs. Ririna Hiramoto/Kokona Ishikawa (JPN)
Tomona Harima/Tsukiko Yasaki (JPN) vs. Nanako Hara/Riko Kiyose (JPN)
