Mixed Doubles:
In one of the last matches of the day, Edward Lau and Shaunna Li’s [NZL] hope of making it through to the Quarter Finals almost looked to be dashed by Li-Wei Po and Yen Yu Lin [TPE].
The New Zealanders, who are also North Harbour players, remained close to their opponents in the first game but fell short at 17-21.
However, they well and truly returned fire in the second to see it out 21-19.
Crowds then lined the mezzanine to watch as Li and Lau closed out the match 21-9 to make it through to the Quarter Finals on Friday against fellow New Zealanders Vincent Tao and Alyssa Tagle.
Men’s Singles:
It was the end of the road for several Oceania Men’s Singles players today, including Edward Lau [NZL] who was knocked out in straight games early in the day by Karono Karono [AUS].
Lau put up a hard-fought effort in the first game, but a series of net errors paired with Karono’s precision would see the Australian ahead 21-19.
The momentum remained much the same during the second with Karono powering ahead to take the game 21-13.
Karono then faced Jhuo-Fu Liao [TPE] later in the day for the Round of 16 who he defeated 21-15, 21-10 to progress to the Quarter Finals.
Karono will continue his campaign on Friday against Jia Wei Joel Koh [SGP].
New Zealand’s Chris Benzie had tough day on court against Garret Tan [USA].
After taking the first 21-19, Benzie then had to the overcome the powerful smash of the 16-year-old American who was able win the next two games 21-14, 21-8 to progress to the Round of 16 against No.1 seed Joo Ven Soong [MAS].
Tan then had a tough, but close match against Soong and was knocked out of the competition 18-21, 18-21.
The no.1 seed is now set for a Quarter Final match against Po-Wei Wang [TPE] on Friday.
Women’s Singles:
Saena Kawakami eliminated last week’s Sydney Roketto International winner Ciou-Tong Tung during the Round of 16 in a three-game thriller after dropping the first 17-21.
Kawakami buckled down to take out the next two 21-18, 21-11 to progress to the Quarter Finals.
She is now set for a match against Hsin Pei Tsai [TPE]
Later on, Shaunna Li [NZL] endured an upsetting loss, going down to Tsai 9-21, 14-21, which now leaves no Oceania representatives in the Women’s Singles.
Men’s Doubles:
Last week’s Sydney Roketto International winners Hiroki Midorikawa and Kyohei Yamashita [JPN] are on track for another shot at a title after their 21-16, 19-21, 21-10 Round of 16 triumph over Cheng Kuan Chen and Li-Wei Po [TPE].
They will meet Kean Hean Loh and Jia Hao Howin Wong [SGP] in the Quarter Finals.
No.1 seeds Hariharan Amsakarunan and Ruban Kumar Rethinasabapathi [IND] sent Australians Landon Kurniawan and Pit Seng Low home with ease during their 21-12, 21-11 win and have set themselves up for a challenging Quarter Final against Christian Bernardo and Alvin Morada [PHI]
Women’s Doubles:
Nozomi Shimizu and Gronya Somerville [AUS] are coasting into Friday after a straightforward 21-8, 21-18 win over Yanxi Liu and Natalie Ting [NZL]
The Australians are taking on Su Yu Chen and Yi En Hsieh [TPE] tomorrow.
No.1 seeds Chih Chen Lee and Yen Yu Lin [TPE] were too strong for Rosie Yang and Josephine Zhao [NZL] in their 21-6, 21-9 victory and now progress to the Quarter Finals against Yi Ting Elsa Lai and Ci Sin Teoh [SGP].
Full results and more information: https://bit.ly/MNHI2024
Quarter Finals begin at 10am (NZDT) Friday.
You can watch all the action live from Court 1&2 via the Badminton Oceania YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/MNHI2024StreamingPlaylist
