SEMI FINALS
The players hit the ground running this morning at the VICTOR Oceania Championships 2024 in Geelong, Australia. From the first match, the intensity was high and the points aplenty.
The first mixed doubles took 62 minutes to find a winner, with lead changing practically with each rally. The New Zealand pair won the first game without much resistance from the Australian’s, however after a chat from head coach Leanne Choo, the second game took a turn, setting up a third and final thriller. Neither side could make a break, with many clean winners but equally unforced errors as the nerves and expectations set in. With a final push the Kiwi’s smashed home the final point to win in what was to be the match of the day.
- Edward Lau/Shaunna Li (NZL) [2] def Rayne Wang/Kaitlyn Ea (AUS) 21-16 12-21 30-28
Junior Falcon, Shrey Dhand showed that he is not here just for experience, but to possibly win the men’s singles. With two long matches yesterday, he did not show any signs of fatigue, keeping the score close against his senior, Ricky Tang. Losing the first game didn’t faze Dhand, powering ahead to take the second and third games, sealing the win and his place in the final.
- Shrey Dhand (AUS) [15] def Ricky Tang (AUS) [4] 21-23 2-15 21-17
Tiffany Ho evened the score after losing to Shaunna Li in the final of the VICTOR Oceania Championships 2023 in Auckland. Ho was determined and did not take her foot off the pedal, winning in two games and keeping her championship hopes alive.
- Tiffany Ho (AUS) [1] def Shaunna Li (NZL) [5] 21-18 21-11
The women’s doubles top seeds will meet in the final after both pair had wins. Setyana Mapasa and partner Angela Yu took only 29 minutes to claim semifinal victory and will meet Kaitlyn Ea and Gronya Somerville later in the day.
- Setyana Mapasa/Angela Yu (AUS) [1] def Erena Calder-Hawkins/Anona Pak (NZL) 21-7 21-13
- Kaitlyn Ea/Gronya Somerville (AUS) [2] def Dania Nugroho/Catrina Chia-Yu Tan (AUS) 21-12 21-17
Out of the men’s semifinals, a trans-Tasman final has emerged. Lukas Defolky and Huaidong Tang will play New Zealand pair, Adam Jeffrey and Dylan Soedjasa.
