Mixed Doubles
Shaunna Li/Edward Lau [NZL] came out firing in the first game of the Semi Final against Alvin Morada/Airah Mae Nicole Albo [PHI]. They powered ahead to a five-point lead at the first interval and continued all the way to game-point at 20-14. A few mistakes allowed their opponents to get back up to 20-18, before Li and Lau sealed the deal 21-18.
During the second, Albo and Morada played well to take an early lead, but the New Zealanders then slowly came back to take a one-point lead at the interval. Li and Lau managed to increase their advantage to secure a match-point at 20-18, things then turned on them as their opponents took back the lead to win the second 21-23.
With the games tied at 1-1, the North Harbour community started to fill the venue, cheering on two of their own players while they fought for a spot in the MAXX North Harbour International Finals.
Li and Lau took control at the first interval with a five-point lead. With the crowd well and truly behind them and after an incredible save by Li late in the third, they extended the lead to 18-11.
They then scored four points to see the scores at 18-15, but swiftly sealed the third 21-15. (Semi Final Result: Shaunna Li/Edward Lau [NZL] def Alvin Morada//Airah Mae Nicole Albo 21-18, 21-23, 21-15)
Head to the Badminton Oceania Facebook or Instagram to watch a post-match interview.
In the other XD Semi Final, Cheng Kuan Chen/Chih Chen Lee [TPE] defeated Christian Bernardo/Elanor Christine Inlayo [PHI] 21-19, 21-18.
Final: Shaunna Li/Edward Lau [NZL] v Cheng Kuan Chen/Chih Chen Lee [TPE]
Women’s Singles
Jaslyn Hooi [SGP] has capped off three weeks in Oceania with a spot in Women’s Singles Final, after only reaching the Semi Finals at both the YONEX Bendigo International and Roketto Sydney International.
Hooi won the first game against Su Yu Chen [TPE] in straightforward fashion at 21-19, before her opponent buckled down for a battle to win the second 25-23 to level the match.
It was then a matter of staying focused, which the Singaporean did, securing the third 21-15 for a spot in the Final. (Semi Final Result: Jaslyn Hooi [SGP] def Su Yu Chen [TPE] 21-19, 25-23, 21-15)
Hear what Jaslyn Hooi had to say after the match:
“This Final is very unexpected as after two weeks of tournaments we are all physically and mentally tired,” Hooi said.
“I gave 100% today and I am sure my opponent did too. Matches like this really challenge us as athletes.
“I’ve been taking this past week point-by-point and match-by-match, trying to be more decisive and confident. I am happy that I was on the winning side of it today.”
In the other WS Semi Final, Hsin-Pei Tsai [TPE] defeated Pei Yu Wang [TPE] 21-18, 21-11
Final: Jaslyn Hooi [SGP] v Hsin-Pei Tsai [TPE]
Men’s Singles
Australian Karono Karono is through to his first Final of the Oceania triple-header after eliminating Po Wei Wang [TPE] in straight games 21-15, 21-11
Hear what Karono had to say about his match and on the past three weeks of the Oceania triple-header:
“In the first two competitions (Bendigo and Sydney), I lost in my first matches. I upped my training and now I am a lot more confident,” Karono said.
“I will play 100% tomorrow and just enjoy the game. I’ve enjoyed this competition in New Zealand.”
It was an all-Chinese-Taipei showdown in the other MS Semi Final between Chia Hung Lu [TPE] and Yu-Kai Wang [TPE]
Wang got the better of his countrymen by securing the first game 21-17.
Lu then came back in action to level the match by winning the second 22-20.
Lu kept firing in the third to see out the match 21-18 and lock in his spot on Saturday. (Final Score Chia Hung Lu [TPE] def Yu-Kai Wang [TPE] 17-21, 22-20, 21-18)
Final: Chia Hung Lu [TPE] v Karono Karono [AUS]
Men’s Doubles
In the last match of the day, it was a battle between No.1 seeds Hariharan Amsakarunan/Ruban Kumar Rethinasabapathi [IND] and Hiroki Midorikawa/Kyohei Yamashita [JPN].
Midorikawa and Yamashita secured the first game 21-12 and had no issues finishing it off 21-9 to book another Finals appearance.
Jack Yu/Keith Edison [AUS] Edison had a tough Semi Final against Po Yu Lai/Fu Cheng Tsai [TPE]. The Aussies were defeated 9-21,13-21.
Final: Po Yu Lai/Fu Cheng Tsai [TPE] v Hiroki Midorikawa/Kyohei Yamashita [JPN]
Women’s Doubles
No.1 seeds Chih Chen Lee/Yen Yu Lin [TPE] endured a challenging three-game match to book themselves into the Final.
They defeated fellow Chinese Taipei players An Chien Cheng/Chih Yun Cheng [TPE] 21-13, 15-21, 21-12.
Meanwhile, Su Yu Chen/Yi En Hsieh defeated Airah Mae Nicole Albo/Eleanor Christine Inlayo [PHI] 21-15, 21-8
Final: Chih Chen Lee/Yen Yu Lin [TPE] v Su Yu Chen/Yi En Hsieh [TPE]
Full results and more information: https://bit.ly/MNHI2024
Finals begin at 11am (NZDT) Saturday.
You can watch all the action live from Court 1 via the Badminton Oceania YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/MNHI2024StreamingPlaylist
