Sunday 13 October 2024 – To start off the Finals Day action, mixed doubles was first on. The Singapore pair Wesley Eng Keat Koh/Jin Yu Jia have had an impressive run during the tournament, beating two seeded opponents to earn their spot in the finals. The other finalists, Chen Cheng Kuan/Lee Chih Chen, have had successful careers with different mixed partners previously, and are a completely new pairing for this Oceania tournament leg. Chen and Lee are both competing in the men’s and women’s doubles final, a respectable feat for players in more than one discipline. The speed and power play from the Singaporeans created a comfortable lead for them in game one, with several of Koh’s smashes hitting right through their opponents. In game two, Chen/Lee amped up the energy levels and was determined to gain the lead first. In a neck and neck battle, the Chinese Taipei players were able to secure the second game in 21-19. Hungry for the win, Koh and Jin gave it their all from 0-0 in the third, finding themselves with a steady three-point lead throughout the game. Jump smashes were flying, net tumbles were perfectly executed, both pairs wanted the medal. The Singapore duo reached match-point while Chen and Lee were at 15. In a nervous attempt to seal the win, mistakes were made by Koh and Jin and the match was even at 20-20. Taking some time to recollect themselves, the Singaporeans triumphed in the end in settings, 22-20, winning their first title together as a mixed doubles pair.
The Men’s Singles featured two Japanese players who represented the same home club, JTKET. Shogo Ogawa had a convincing lead up to the finals, winning all rounds in straight games. Notably, Ogawa defeated seed number one, Kuo Kuan Lin from Chinese Taipei in straight games in the Quarter Finals. Meanwhile, Keisuke Fujiwara started his tournament with a close three-set match against Joel Jia Wei Koh from Singapore, but confidently performed in the following rounds to earn his Finals spot. In the match, despite Fujiwara’s best efforts to find court openings and maintain pressure, Ogawa’s calm composure and precise execution proved too strong throughout the finals match, winning the title 21-18, 21-9. Fujiwara’s perseverance and skill made for an admirable performance throughout the match but fell short to a well-played Shogo Ogawa.
The Women’s Singles match was between Tanya Hemanth from India, against Tung Ciou-Tong from Chinese Taipei. Hemanth’s journey to the finals was almost stopped by the reigning women’s singles champion, Jaslyn Hooi from Singapore. In the grueling 64-minute match was a test of 21-year-old Hemanth’s mental and physical resilience, of which she was able to come out victorious. Tung also competed in the Women’s Doubles, making it to the Semi Finals before bowing out to fellow teammates in three games. Hemanth stepped on court with obvious composure, followed by a consistent and accurate game play that created a lead within the first game. Taking the first 21-17, Tung was determined to fight back in the second game. The Chinese Taipei player tried a more aggressive style of play, and was able to find the sidelines with great accuracy. However, the second game was clinched by the tenacious young Indian player.
Next up was an all-Chinese-Taipei Women’s Doubles between Hsu/Lin and Lee/Lin. The talent and depth of players in this particular discipline was especially obvious from Chinese Taipei, with those making the finals only just beating other teammates in tight three-game matches in previous rounds. From the first point in the finals match, Hsu and Lin were fast approaching the net after a strategic back-court attack, using this tactic to seal the first game 21-15. There was an opportunity for Lee and Lin to turn the game around in the second game with an early lead created by Lee’s strategic rear-court shot selection and variation. However, the gap was quickly closed by the first seed Hsu/Lin through a patient and focused demeanour after the mid-game interval, winning them the Women’s Doubles title.
To wrap up finals day, the Men’s Doubles saw India’s Hariharan Amsakarunan/Ruban Kumar Rethinasabapathi face off against Po Li-Wei/Chen Cheng Kuan of Chinese Taipei. As top seeds, Amsakarunan/Rethinasabapathi dominated the earlier rounds, winning decisively against Indonesia, Singapore, New Zealand, and Japan. Po and Chen were also competing in the mixed doubles discipline, making it through to the finals and semi finals respectively. The Chinese Taipei men’s doubles duo narrowly clinched their quarterfinal win, edging out Japan 21-19 in the third game. The final was a fast-paced battle of attack versus defense, with both sides focused on maintaining offensive control while showcasing exceptional reaction speed and resilience throughout. In the second game, Po Li-Wei and Chen Cheng Kuan adjusted their approach, demonstrating a stronger understanding of their opponents’ tactics and weaknesses. Their ability to anticipate shots and disrupt the Indian pair’s rhythm gave them a clear advantage. Po and Chen controlled the tempo, forcing Amsakarunan and Rethinasabapathi into defensive play. This strategic shift led to a decisive 21-14 win, making them the newly crowned Men’s Doubles Winner.
After five thrilling days of action-packed badminton, the Yonex Bendigo International has officially come to a close. A special thank you to our sponsors and partners Yonex Australia, Victoria State Government, Bendigo Eaglehawk Stadium and City of Greater Bendigo for making this possible. As players, officials, and fans shift their focus to the next leg in Sydney, the excitement continues. Stay connected with us through our Facebook event pages and social media for live updates and more exhilarating badminton to come.
Photo credit: Adam Photography
