JUNIOR INDIVIDUALS
Australia has dominated the VICTOR Oceania Junior Championships, particularly in the singles where three out of four semifinalists in men’s and women’s U19 singles were from the nation.
However to break things up Daniel Hu from Auckland defeated Shrey Dhand twice in one day to reach two title deciders.
Hu accounted for fourth seed Shrey in three tight games to reach the men’s singles final and then combined with Chris Benzie to beat Dhand and Jayden Lim in the men’s doubles semifinal.
Earlier Hu and Benzie had a marathon victory against countrymen Jaden Mingoa and Lezhi Zhu 22-20 in the third in the quarterfinal.
Hu and Benzie are the only non-Australians in junior finals.
- Daniel Hu (NZL) bt Shrey Dhand (AUS) 24-22 17-21 21-16
- Hu/Benzie (NZL) bt Dhand/Lim (AUS) 21-15 21-18
In the mixed doubles draw second seeds Jordan Yang and Sydney Tjonadi will face Ephraine Stephen Sam and Dania Nugroho for the title.
Stephen Sam and Nugroho won their semfiinal in straight games, but had to fight hard in their quarterfinal. over Frederick Zhao and Jazsmine Lam.
- Stephen Sam/Nugroho (AUS) bt Asher Jing Jie Ooi/Yuchen (Amy) Guo (AUS) 21-13 21-15
- Stephen Sam/Nugroho (AUS) bt Frederick Zhao/Jazsmine Lam (AUS) 19-21 21-17 21-18
In the women’s singles and doubles there was an injury withdrawal for Jazsmine Lam against Isabella Yan and also in the doubles semifinal with Maureen Wijaya in their match against Sydney Tjonadi and Joanne Zheng.
Earlier in the day Lam had beaten Victoria Tjonadi in straight sets in the quarterfinals.
- Jazsmine Lam (AUS) bt Vctoria Tjonadi (AUS) 21-15 21-19
Check out all results from the VICTOR Oceania Junior Individual Championships 2023 on Tournament Software. Photos, videos and more are available to view on Facebook and Instagram. Join the conversation by using the hashtag #VOC23
The draw continues to unfold from 11.30am (local time, GMT+13) tomorrow, starting with the mixed doubles final, followed by the women’s doubles final, men’s singles, women’s singles and mixed doubles.
OPEN INDIVIDUALS
The Open Individuals Championships had some tight matches with young and more experienced players and a share of nationalities in the finals.
The men’s singles final will be an all-New Zealand affair, while the women’s singles final is a trans-Tasman battle however Australia has the women’s doubles all sewn up with two teams in the final while the men’s doubles is another Australia v New Zealand contest.
The mixed draw is still at the semifinal stage which will be played earlier on Thursday will the finals second on court from 11.30.
In the first women’s doubles semifinal it was Australians Sylvina Kurnniawan and Setyana Mapasa who got the better of Joyce Choong and Gronya Somerville to book their ticket into tomorrow’s final where they will come up against Tiffany Ho and Lee Yen Khoo.
- Sylvina Kurnniawan/Setyana Mapasa (AUS) bt Joyce Choong/Gronya Somerville 21-18 20-22 21-18
- Tiffany Ho/Lee Yen Khoo (AUS) bt Priska Kustiadi/Carina Sam 21-9 21-14
A couple of former winners will meet in the men’s singles final as Edward Lau faces Abhinav Manota after both had straight set semifinal victories.
Defending champion, Lau beat 2019 runner-up, Remi Rossi with some powerful strokeplay in a match where both competitors were fired up while Manota the winner in 2020 and 2018 turned back the clock in his semifinal win over Jacob Schueler.
- (2) Edward Lau (NZL) bt Remi Rossi (TAH) 21-15 21-19
- Abhinav Manota (NZL) bt (4) Jacob Schueler (AUS) 21-12, 21-19
“I feel pretty good right now, it was a tough match against Jacob (Schueler) and it’s going to be a tough final too. I’ve got other things in life, but I will always give 100 percent when I’m playing,” said Manota who is turning 31 later this year.
The top seed in the women’s singles, Tiffany Ho continued her march to the final with a straight sets wins in the quarter and semifinals.
Ho will face Kiwi Shaunna Li in the decider
- (1) Tiffany Ho (AUS) bt Kai Qi (Bernice) Teoh (AUS) 21-11 21-11
- Shaunna Li (NZL) bt (2) Louisa Ma (AUS) 21-18 21-15
“I’m pretty pleased with the way I played and finding my game. It will be a difficult final against Tiffany I have only played her once before. It will be a good game. I’ve only played in the Oceania Open Champs one previously as last year I tried to play, but got Covid,” said Li.
The evening came to a entertaining completion with the ‘veteran’ pair of Alan Chan and Chance Cheng both in their early 30’s defeating Australian Commonwealth Games team member Jack Yu, 18 and Ming Chuen Lim.
They play Kenneth Zheng and Rayne Wang for the title.
- Kenneth Zheng/Rayne Wang (AUS) bt Keith Mark Edison/Mitchell Wheller (AUS) 21-15 21-14
- Chance Cheng/Alan Chan (NZL) bt Ming Chuen Lim/Jack Yu (AUS) 21-17 21-14
The mixed doubles draw is at the semifinal stage and will feature four Australian pairs.
Ricky Tang and Kaitlyn Ea will play Ming Chuen Lim and Sylvina Kurniawan for one place in the final while top seeds Kenneth Zhe Hooi Choo and Gronya Somerville face Gavin Kyjac Ong and Lee Yen Khoo in the other semi.
- Ricky Tang/Kaitlyn Ea (AUS) bt Mitchell Wheller/Louisa Ma (AUS) 21-19 23-21
“It was straight sets but it was tougher than that,” said Tang “I felt we combined well and were mentally strong today. It’s our first senior tournament together and I’ve played a lot of matches.” said Tang.
Check out all results from the VICTOR Oceania Open Individual Championships 2023 on Tournament Software. Photos, videos and more are available to view on Facebook and Instagram. Join the conversation by using the hashtag #VOC23
The tournament continues from 10.00am tomorrow morning (Friday) (local time, GMT+13) with the mixed semis followed by finals from 11.30am which features the women’s singles followed by mixed doubles final, men’s singles, women’s doubles and men’s doubles.
Courts one and two of the Open Individual Championships will be available to watch on Badminton Oceania’s YouTube Channel.
