Thursday, 21 Nov 2024

World No.93 pair Choong Hon Jian and Muhammad Haikal triumph in Syed Modi India International 2023

World No.93 pair Choong Hon Jian and Muhammad Haikal pulled off a major upset at the Syed Modi India International 2023, defeating second seeds Ben Lane and Sean Vendy in a thrilling match. This victory marks a significant milestone in their careers.

Choong and Haikal, who started playing together in August, have been steadily improving their performance. They reached the quarterfinals at the XPORA Indonesia International Challenge and were runners-up at the BNI Indonesia Masters II 2023. In the PETRONAS Malaysia International Challenge, they once again made it to the quarterfinals.

In their match against Lane and Vendy, Choong and Haikal dominated from the start. Although the English pair put up a tougher fight in the second game, the Malaysians never let go of their lead and emerged victorious after a 39-minute battle, with a score of 21-12 21-19.

Sayaka Hirota injury mars Japan’s dominance

Japan had a dominant presence in the semifinals. However, their success was marred by an unfortunate injury to Sayaka Hirota. Hirota and Yuki Fukushima, ranked No.5 in the world, were leading 11-9 against local pair Ashwini Ponnappa and Tanisha Crasto when Hirota collapsed on the court during a rally. The extent of her injury is still unknown, and a medical update is awaited.

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We wish Sayaka Hirota a speedy recovery and hope to see her back on the court soon.

Nozomi Okuhara makes a strong comeback

In a remarkable comeback, Nozomi Okuhara reached her first final in over two years. The former world champion, who last reached the final at the All England in March 2021, fought hard against compatriot Aya Ohori and emerged victorious with a score of 21-19 22-20.

Okuhara displayed incredible resilience, saving six game points in the second game by winning eight consecutive points to secure the match. Although her ranking has slipped to No.36, Okuhara’s performance in this tournament proves that she is still a formidable player.

In the final, Okuhara will face Denmark’s Line Kjaersfeldt, who had a tough battle against Chinese Taipei’s Hsu Wen Chi, winning with a score of 14-21 21-17 21-16. This will be Kjaersfeldt’s second final of the season, following her runner-up finish at the HYLO Open.

Other notable highlights

In mixed doubles, second seeds Dejan Ferdinansyah and Gloria Emanuelle Widjaja claimed victory in a thrilling match against Mark Lamsfuss and Isabel Lohau. The Germans almost turned the tables in the decider, scoring five consecutive points from 15-19 down. However, the Indonesians held their nerve, saved a match point, and eventually won with a score of 21-19 19-21 22-20.

In men’s singles, Kenta Nishimoto reached his second final in as many weeks, defeating Alex Lanier with a score of 21-17 13-21 21-17. Nishimoto, ranked No.12 in the world, was the runner-up at the LI-NING China Masters 2023 last Sunday and will be aiming for his second title of the season. His opponent in the final will be world No.48 Chi Yu Jen, who defeated local hope Priyanshu Rajawat with a score of 18-21 21-14 21-17.

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FAQs

Q: Who are Choong Hon Jian and Muhammad Haikal?
Choong Hon Jian and Muhammad Haikal are a pair of badminton players who recently made a breakthrough in their career by defeating second seeds Ben Lane and Sean Vendy at the Syed Modi India International 2023. They have been playing together since August and have been steadily improving their performance.

Q: What happened to Sayaka Hirota?
Sayaka Hirota, a prominent badminton player from Japan, suffered an injury during the semifinals of the Syed Modi India International 2023. She collapsed on the court during a rally and had to retire from the match. The extent of her injury is still unknown, and we await a medical update.

Q: Who is Nozomi Okuhara?
Nozomi Okuhara is a former world champion in badminton. She recently made a strong comeback by reaching the final of the Syed Modi India International 2023. Her last final appearance was in March 2021 at the All England. Despite a drop in her ranking, Okuhara showcased her resilience and determination in this tournament.

Summary

The Syed Modi India International 2023 witnessed some thrilling matches and surprising upsets. World No.93 pair Choong Hon Jian and Muhammad Haikal emerged as the dark horses, defeating second seeds Ben Lane and Sean Vendy. In another twist, Sayaka Hirota suffered an injury during the semifinals, casting a shadow over Japan’s dominant performance. Nozomi Okuhara made a remarkable comeback, reaching her first final in over two years. The tournament also showcased the talents of other players, including Dejan Ferdinansyah, Gloria Emanuelle Widjaja, Kenta Nishimoto, and Chi Yu Jen. Overall, it was an exciting event that showcased the competitiveness and determination of the players. To stay updated with the latest badminton news, visit Carnegiecentre.com.

Tham Khảo Thêm:  BWF News