Hsuan-Yu Wendy Chen makes history, Gronya and Abhinav doubles up on gold. Final highlights – VICTOR Oceania Championships 2020

Pictured: Hsuan-Yu Wendy Chen, Australia. Photo credit: Ballarat Badminton

MEN’S SINGLES

The reigning Oceania junior champion Edward Lau stepped onto court in his first open final this evening. The 18-year-old was not to be underestimated as he stunned the men’s singles draw on day one when he ousted the fourth seed.

However, the experience of fellow training partner from New Zealand, Abhinav Manota, proved too strong in this evening’s final. Manota is no stranger to the Oceania championships and tonight he continued his impressive form to retain the title that he won in 2018.

Abhinav Manota (NZL)[1] vs Edward Lau (NZL) 21-17 21-15

“I am very happy to win the title this year as it will contribute to the Olympic qualification. I came to Ballarat with a plan and I am glad it worked”, says Abhinav Manota

WOMEN’S SINGLES

The all-Australian women’s singles final was a particularly heated contest, as both players sit within 10 spaces of each other in the current BWF Road to Tokyo rankings – Wendy currently leading the charge at number 79 to Louisa’s 88 – the potential opportunity to represent Australia in Tokyo was surely on their mind tonight.

Opening with a game of two halves, both players fired the shuttlecock into the four corners of the court. However, it became too little, too late as Hsuan-Yu took charge and maintained the momentum as she went on to make history – being the first player to win a title in any discipline for six consecutive years.

Hsuan-Yu Wendy Chen (AUS)[1] vs Louisa MA (AUS)[2] 21-15 21-11

“It was a lot of pressure and tried to overcome that. It feels great to win my sixth title”, says Wendy Chen

MEN’S DOUBLES

The Rio 2016 Olympians and four-time champions from Australia got off to a great start in the opening game, before their run of mistakes and a controlled attack from the New Zealanders saw a retaliation that turned the tables; the kiwis converting an 11-4 lead into a 21-9 win. With everything to play for in the third, Leydon-Davis and Manota held on to the momentum as they lead at 11-7.

Motivated by their second-round exit in last year’s event and a history favouring the Australians, Leydon-Davis and Manota pumped on the gas to triumph in emphatic style – accruing valuable world ranking points to aid their Olympic qualification campaign.

Oliver Leydon-Davis/Abhinav Manota (NZL)[2] vs Matthew Chau/Sawan Serasinghe (AUS) 18-21 21-9 21-14

“I am pretty happy…don’t even know how to put it into words. Especially as the first game was so close. I’ve played against them a few times over the year so I had a fair idea of what could happen, fortuantley we managed to win today”, says Oliver Leydon-Davis

WOMEN’S DOUBLES

The world number 26 duo from Australia, Gronya Somerville and Setyana Mapasa, dominated the women’s doubles draw as they maintained a relentless attack and deceptive skills on court this evening. The New Zealand opponents fought valiantly to compete in the rallies, but the Australian’s wealth of experience and imposing attack helped them to sweep up a fourth consecutive title in Ballarat.

The occasion tops off a phenomenal year since winning the title last year, where they have since gone on to win titles in Canada, Nepal and Florida; all of which gives them a current ranking of 26 in the BWF Road to Tokyo rankings, and number 15 in the list of potential qualifiers.

Setyana Mapasa/Gronya Somerville (AUS) vs Sally Fu/Alyssa Tagle (NZL)[2] 21-9 21-10

“This has been a great tournament for us. We have tried to focus on every match and not make any easy errors” – Gronya Somerville

MIXED DOUBLES

Australian underdogs, Tran and Sylvina, had a fantastic run in their first continental championships, overcoming the second and sixth seeds on route to this evening’s final. However, the reigning champions and first seeds were unstoppable tonight as they raced through the opening game to take an early lead, 11-5.

Leung and Somerville showed no intention of slowing down and had an answer for every shot fired at them, taking 27 minutes to see off the challenge and add those elusive world ranking points to their Olympic campaign.

Simon Wing Hang Leung/Gronya Somerville (AUS)[1] vs Tran Hoang Pham/Sylvina Kurniawan (AUS) 21-12 21-8

“I think it’s mainly having good preparations what we need to do ourselves, especially when they beat the second see, they are really capable of winning the tournament, but we worked hard and end up winning”, says Simon Leung

“I think we played really well in the quarter final against the second seed, we just try to enjoy the game and have fun as there is nothing to lose”, says Tran Hang Pham