JUNIOR INDIVIDUALS
An even spread of titles among the Australian players in the VICTOR Oceania Junior Championships as they won all five of the titles on offer.
Daniel Hu tried as hard as he could to stop the flow of titles to Australia particularly in the second game of his match with top seed Jie Ying Chan in the men’s singles, but he couldn’t quite get the points he wanted.
Hu gained five quick points in a row in the second game to challenge Chan and put the pressure on but it wasn’t to be and Chan got the result and hopefully the recognition he wanted.
- Jie Ying Chan (AUS) bt Daniel Hu (NZL) 21-17 22-20
“I’m relieved, although I expected it. I knew his shots as a teammate had played him yesterday and told me how he hits. Towards the end it was just my mental game. I was thinking too far ahead. People will start to notice me now. This win really helps,” said Chan.
In the men’s U19 doubles Hu and Chris Benzie did everything they could to get New Zealand on the titles board, however Jordan Yang and Frederick Zhao held them off in three games with the final scoreline 22-20 in the third.
- Jordan Yang/Frederick Zhao bt Chris Benzie/Daniel Hu 18-21 21-17 22-20
The day started with the mixed doubles team of Jordan Yang and Sydney Tjonadi overcoming Ephraim Stephen Sam and Dania Nugroho 21-14 21-15.
Later in the day Tjondai tried for her second title as she lined up with Joanne Zheng, however they were beaten in three games by Dania Nugroho and Catarina Chia Yu Tan.
Tan had earlier been beaten in the women’s singles final by Isabella Yan in straight games 21-17 21-18.
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
OPEN INDIVIDUALS
The Open Individuals Championships finals had some tight matches with New Zealand taking the singles and Australia all of the doubles.
The women’s singles opened the day and proved to be a sign of things to come in an epic encounter where neither player looked assured of victory.
Shaunna Li had a big lead in the first game but then found herself losing six points in a row as Tiffany Ho took the score to 21-20 in her favour.
Fortunately for Li she gritted her teeth to win the game 24-22 and then held on despite dropping the second. She was able to reset and came back strong to win in three games.
Li was the junior singles winner at the Victor Oceania Championships in 2022 in Melbourne.
- Shaunna Li (NZL) bt Tiffany Ho (AUS) 24-22 18-21 21-12
“I probably got too comfortable and started rushing my shots in the first set. I was lucky to get it so I could reset. She was getting momentum. I was really hard to be honest. I just had to focus on one point at a time especially after what happened in the first set. I didn’t want to think too far ahead,” said Li,
“I think I can have some ice cream tonight…Duck Island ice cream. At least my bank account will look a little better.”
The mixed doubles featured the experienced Gronya Somerville combining with Kenneth Zhe Hooi Choo as top seeds.
They fulfilled their top ranking with a 21-12 21-16 victory over Ming Chuen Lim and Sylvina Kurniawan in an all-Australian final.
For Somerville it was the third consecutive mixed doubles title at the tournament.
The men’s singles was an all-kiwi affair as Abhinav Manota took on Edward Lau in a battle of three of the past four singles title winners.
On this occasion it was a solid performance from Manota which gave him the victory over one of his training buddies.
- Abhinav Manota (NZL) bt Edward Lau (NZL) 21-12 21-16
“My game play worked today. It’s probably why I could win. We play each other all the time. It does get a little bit same-same, but we try and push each other. I really wanted to win, but it doesn’t really change where I’m at. I will always fight when I play,” said Manota.
The women’s doubles final saw the unseeded pair of Sylvina Kurniawan and Setyana Mapasa dominate second seeds Tiffany Ho and Lee Yen Khoo in straight games.
It was the fifth women’s doubles title at the event for Mapasa and second consecutive for Kurniawan.
- Sylvina Kurniawan/Setyana Mapasa (AUS) bt Tiffany Ho/Lee Yen Khoo (AUS) 21-7 21-9
The day was once again left to the men’s doubles to complete proceedings as the New Zealand pair of Alan Chan and Chance Cheng took on Kenneth Zheng and Rayne Wang for the title.
It looked to be an upset of sorts ready to occur as Chan and Cheng took the first game 17-21, but the younger duo came back strong, including holding off the home team in a late comeback in the third.
- Kenneth Zheng/Rayne Wang (AUS) bt Alan Chan/Chance Cheng (NZL) 17-21 21-15 21-18
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 10am tomorrow morning (Friday) (local time, GMT+13) with the mixed teams event.
