The final day of competition delivered a thrilling conclusion to the CROWNE PLAZA Northern Marianas Open, with athletes leaving everything on the court in pursuit of glory. From tactical masterclasses to emotional comebacks, each match highlighted the depth of talent and determination among the players. With Japan dominating the finals lineup and standout performances from Korea, the day was a celebration of badminton at its finest. Here’s how the action unfolded across all five categories.
MIXED DOUBLES
In an all-Japanese final, the young pair of Haruki Kawabe/Kokona Ishikawa aimed to topple the duo of Akira Koga/Yuho Imai. However, with Kawabe and Ishikawa both also playing in the men’s and women’s doubles, Koga and Imai were able to find gaps on the court. With Koga’s experience shining through, the young duo couldn’t keep up with the tactical prowess of their opponents.
Koga and Imai won the match 21-19, 21-13.
WOMEN’S SINGLES
Park took the first game convincingly and was poised to close out the match quickly; however, Masuki game out swinging (both literally and metaphorically) in the second game, to stun Park and force a third game.
The final game could not have been any closer, with multiple lead changes before the interval. Vying for the upper hand, both players knew that whoever hit the interval ahead would have the advantage. Said advantage went to Masuki, who continued to put Park under pressure. She closed out the match with a 21-14 win in the last game for a final score of 15-21, 21-11, 21-14.
Notably, Masuki finished runner-up in the 2024 edition of the CROWNE PLAZA Northern Marianas Open.
MEN’S SINGLES
Kim Hae Deun (KOR) dominated the first game against Japan’s Yudai Okimoto. Dictating the pace, it seemed like Kim could run away with the title. Okimoto’s slow start could have been from nerves, but as the game progressed, his confidence grew, and he emerged as the crowd favourite. Spurred on by supporters and his newfound self-assuredness, he surged to a 21-15 win in the second game.
Going into the third, Okimoto looked unstoppable. However, Kim pushed one last time to close the deficit late in the match. Both players gave their everything, throwing themselves around the court to keep the play alive. In the end, Okimoto’s grit proved to be too strong for his opponent, and he won the match 13-21, 21-15, 21-18.
WOMEN’S DOUBLES
The scores do not reflect the intensity of this match. With long rallies and aggressive tactics, the final between Ririna Hiramoto/Kokona Ishikawa and Hinata Suzuki/Nao Yamakita proved to be a fierce competition. Coming off a loss in the mixed doubles, Ishikawa looked in her element on the court with Hiramoto. Over 53 minutes, the pair chipped away at Suzuki/Yamakita. Slowly, but surely, the two made their mark, and their pairing perfectly complemented each other’s strengths. Despite the tremendous effort from Suzuki and Yamakita, Hiramoto and Ishikawa won the match 21-17, 21-15.
MEN’S DOUBLES
The men’s doubles final was one of tactics. Haruki Kawabe returned to the court alongside Kenta Matsukawa to take on fellow Japanese players, Kakeru Kumagai and Hiroki Nishi. The two sides took vastly different approaches to the match. Kumagai/Nishi focused on controlled tactics and dictating the speed of play. This worked, and they took the first game. But a lapse in concentration provided the perfect opportunity for their opponents to capitalise. With a flashy brilliance from Kawabe/Matsukawa, the tempo of the match picked up greatly, and they forced a third game. Luckily for Kumagai/Nishi, they were able to find their footing and regain control of the match in the third to win the match 21-15, 23-25, 21-13.
