Pictured: Koshiro Moriguchi (Japan) and Jason Anthony Ho-Shue (Canada). Photo Credit: Marthin Nanere
Day three of the YONEX Bendigo International 2022 saw the draws narrow down from 16 to 8 in each discipline as the quarterfinalists were decided.
Opening with the mixed doubles, Oceania’s interest was phased out as two pairs from Chinese Taipei ousted the fifth and eighth seeds from Australia and New Zealand. The hybrid duo of Dylan Soedjasa and Kaitlyn Ea put up a good fight against the winner’s of last week’s YONEX Sydney International 2022, but were unable to find the answers in the latter half of their games.
- Ko-Chi Chang/Chih Chen Lee (TPE) vs Ming Chuen Lim/Sylvina Kurniawan (AUS)[8] 21-14 21-16
- Chen Xin-Yuan/Yang Ching Tun (TPE) vs Dylan Soedjasa/Kaitlyn Ea (NZL/AUS)[5] 21-14 21-17
The first seeds from Canada delivered the most convincing victory of the morning with a solid performance which barely let their opponents into double figures.
- Ty Lindeman/Josephine Wu (CAN)[1] vs Fang-Chih Lee/Wen Pei Sun (TPE) 21-6 21-10
Two of the longest and most captivating matches of the day came in the singles draw, with a men’s and women’s game overstepping the 60-minute mark.
Firstly, Japan’s Koshiro Moriguchi ousted tournament favourite Jason Anthony Ho-Shue (Canada) in 76 minutes. Their match unfolded with several long rallies and a handful of heated line call contests as both players aimed wide and long to find the gaps. Bringing the match right down to the wire, the Japanese world number 238 delivered a career-high performances by defeating the Tokyo 2020 Olympian and world number 59.
- Koshiro Moriguchi (JPN) vs Jason Anthony Ho-Shue (CAN)[1] 15-21 21-18 21-19
“I got some feedback from my coach after the match that I need to work on as there were moments when I could have done better. However, I have never beaten a top seed in a tournament before. I need to keep my concentration strong in my next games because I want to play my best and win”, says Koshiro.
Meanwhile, his fellow compatriot Manami Suizu stole the record for the tournament’s longest match over on court four. Having ousted Oceania’s seven-time and reigning champion (Wendy Chen) in the first round of the women’s singles, she overcame another hurdle today in 88 minutes, after saving three match points and then taking it on her first time of asking.
- Manami Suizu (JPN) vs Ciou-Tong Tung (TPE) 24-26 21-13 23-21
“It was very close. I had to put in more effort to push through to the end. In Japan, we train hard for the physical and mental game and today’s result is the reward for all that hard work. I have never won an international title and I am hoping that this will be my first”, says Manami.
A likely barrier in Manami’s route to the aspirational title is the first seed from Vietnam, Thuy Linh Nguyen. While she was trailing for the first half of her first game this afternoon, Thuy quickly turned the tables to win in emphatic style.
- Thuy Linh Nguyen (VIE)[1] vs Yi En Hsieh (TPE) 21-14 21-9
Australia’s hopes in the women’s singles were dashed as Tiffany Ho succumbed to the pace and precision of Nana Hisaminatio – a 19-year-old who is competing in her first Open international tournament this week.
- Nana Hisaminato (JPN) vs Tiffany Ho (AUS) 21-7 21-13
The fierce men’s singles competition saw a repeat of last week’s final in today’s round of 16, although Lin Chun-Yi made lighter work of today’s win as he came through in two games, compared to last week’s three-game clash.
- Lin Chun-Yi (TPE)[2] vs Jia Wei Joel Koh (SGP)[14] 21-12 21-13
Pairs from Chinese Taipei and Japan reigned victorious in the women’s doubles draw too, particularly when it came to defeating pairs from Oceania.
Only Gronya Somerville and Hsuan-Yu Wendy Chen were able to strain free from their stronghold. The Commonwealth Games fourth place finishers made up for last week’s early exit to book their quarterfinal spot in Bendigo, becoming one of only three remaining pairs from Oceania left in the competition.
- Chia Hsin Lee/Chun Hsun Teng (TPE)[3] vs Kaitlyn Ea/Angela Yu (AUS) 21-13 21-11
- Ching Hui Chang/Ching Tun Yang (TPE)[4] vs Lee Yen Khoo/Justine Villegas (AUS/NZL) 21-8 21-5
- Minami Kawashima/Natsu Saito (JPN) vs Majan Almazan/Tiffany Ho (AUS) 21-9 21-15
- Hsuan-Yu Wendy Chen/Gronya Somerville (AUS) vs Su Yu Chen/Hsiao An Lu (TPE) 21-8 21-19
The other two pairs from Oceania to make it through to tomorrow’s quarterfinals are sixth seeds Lukas Defolky and Huaidong Tang, who overcame the challenge of neighboring rivals from New Zealand and Keith Edison and Mitchell Wheller who are still riding on a high after defeating the fifth seeded Canadian’s yesterday.
- Lukas Defolky/Huaidong Tang (AUS)[6] vs Adam Jeffrey/Dylan Soedjasa (NZL) 21-16 18-21 21-16
- Keith Edison/Mitchell Wheller (AUS) vs Marcus Kong/Rayne Wang (AUS) 21-15 21-17
- Hin Long Chow/Chun Wai Lui (HKG) vs Adam Dong/Nyl Yakura (CAN)[2] 21-9 22-20
- Ko-Chi Chang/Li-Wei Po (TPE)[3] vs Kenneth Choo/Ming Chuen Lim (AUS) 21-16 21-14
All of the results from day three are available to view on Tournament Software. The quarterfinals start at 10am local time (AEDT), opening with the mixed doubles.
All matches on courts one and two will be available to watch for free on the live stream (also available after the completion of matches), via Badminton Oceania’s YouTube Channel.
Photos, videos and more content from day one is available to view on Badminton Oceania’s Facebook page. Join the conversation by using the hashtag #BendigoInternational22
