Jacklynda Molidu picked up a badminton racket for the first time in December last year. Today she just made her first international final.
The Vanuatu native secured a spot in tomorrow’s YONEX Australian Para Badminton International WS SH6 final after a decisive win over Australia’s Sarah Keenahan.
“I’m so grateful and proud to have made it to the finals,” she expressed after her match.
For Molidu, sharing the court with so many players from around the world has helped her to develop her game tactics.
“When I sit there and watch the others play, I pick up techniques or how they play with others,” Molidu explained. “I get ideas from them and try to put it into practice on the court.”
She approaches tomorrow’s final prepared to give it her all. But no matter the outcome, the player from BWF’s newest member says she simply wants to show those back home what’s possible.
“For the others that didn’t make it here, never give up–just think ‘next time’,” she said. Everyone could do what I can do.”
She will revisit Australia’s Katelyn Colley in tomorrow’s final.
ENGLISH/AUSTRALIAN DUO MAKE FIRST FINAL IN DEBUT TOURNAMENT AS PAIR
Sean O’Sullivan (ENG) and Amonrat Jamporn (AUS) returned to the international scene with a bang. Both players have been away from competition for extended periods with injury, so their 21-17, 21-16 win over India’s Dinesh Rajaiah/Sarumathi Sarumathi was extra sweet.
“It’s amazing, I don’t think I’ve ever been in the final of an international, so it’s really cool,” said O’Sullivan. “We know a few things we need to work on, and just get a bit more coordinated and play to our disability classes.”
The pair recently began training together, after O’Sullivan moved to Sydney earlier this year. In their first outing as mixed doubles partners, they’ve exceeded their expectations.
“It’s really come together this week, so [we’re] just really happy to be in the final,” said O’Sullivan.
O’Sullivan and Jamporn will take on Ruthick Ragupathi/Manasi Girishchandra Joshi (IND) in their fight for XD SL3-SU5 gold tomorrow.
WELSH PLAYER IGNITES THE MS SU5 SEMIS
David Jack Wilson (WAL) lit up the court today in his semifinal match against Chirag Baretha (IND). Baretha, who entered the tournament as the higher ranked player, cruised to a first game win. During the interval, Wilson regrouped with his coaches. When he returned to the court, the fire in his determination clearly had been stoked. After charging to a late lead to secure the second, Wilson never looked back. Between the power behind his smashes and his agility on the court, he was impossible to stop.
With his 14-21, 21-17,21-14 win over the second seed, Wilson will play England’s Robert Donald for the second time this week in tomorrow’s MS SU5 final.
OTHER NOTABLE RESULTS:
In the All-Australian S-WH2 semifinal, Qambar Ali Akhteyari continued his form, taking down second seed Grant Manzoney 21-16, 21-13. He will play Korea’s Kim Kyung Hoon in tomorrow’s final.
Zashka Gunson (AUS) will take on number one seed Sarumathi Sarumathi in the WS- SL4+SU5 final after defeating New Zealand’s Anna Hika with a commanding 21-5, 21-6 performance.
