DJARUM SUPERLIGA 2014 – Jaya Raya eyes a sweep

Jaya Raya scored two wins over Unisys at the Djarum Badminton Superliga on Saturday: to win the women’s team title and book a final challenge in the men’s team against defending champions Musica.

By Mathilde Liliana Perada and Altania Cut Wigri, Badzine Correspondents.  Photos: Badmintonphoto (archives)

It was a repeat of the 2013 final in the women’s team event at the Djarum Badminton Superliga in Surabaya.  In fact, once again Jaya Raya entrusted Busanan Ongbamrungphan (pictured) became their first women’s singles and play against Sayaka Takahashi from Unisys Japan.  This young lady from Thailand performed an impressive first game, applying attacking tactics in the beginning that left Takahashi unable to develop her own performance.

Just as she did last year, Busanan took the first game but lost the second after Takahashi changed the way she played.  The Jpanese shuttler’s advantage didn’t last long because the seventeen-year-old Thai was determined not to let history repeat itself.  She was back on her top form and became more dangerous in the third game.

“I’m happy to come here and enjoy playing for Jaya Raya.  I hope I can come again next year,” said Busanan after the match.  Interestingly, she came along with her parents to her second straight year in this competition with Jaya Raya.

After what would be the only point for Unisys – a logical win by their world #3 women’s doubles pair Misaki Matsutomo and Ayaka Takahashi (pictured) over Pia Zebadiah / Rizky Amelia Pradipta – the remaining matches looked so easy for Jaya Raya to defend their title.  Bellaetrix Manuputy looked more confident when she confronted Shizuka Uchida and won 21-9, 21-10.  Finishing off the tie was women’s doubles pair Greysia Polii and Nitya Krishinda Maheswari, who followed Bellaetrix by taking down Ayane Kurihara and Naru Shinoya in straight games.

Imelda Kurniawan, team manager of Jaya Raya, explain that there are so many obstacle for the team in order to defend the title.  “We hired foreign player with a large amount of funds to help the team.  We had to play hard to defend the title,” she said.

Men’s Team: Musica Flypower to face Jaya Raya

Men’s Team defending champions, Musica Flypower Champion step forward to the final round after beat Hi-Qua Wima Surabaya and they have the opportunity to keep their throne.  Marc Zwiebler, Simon Santoso, and Ryan Agung Saputra and Ricky Karanda Suwardi (pictured) helped the team step forward without losing a match and without having to resort to their two Lees.

Also advancing with a semi-final clean sheet are their challengers Jaya Raya, who have an ambition to match the title-winning performance of their women’s team counterparts.

Jaya Raya was represented by Kenichi Tago, who won a hard-fought battle with his high school team-mate Takuma Ueda.  Then Hendra Setiawan / Markis Kido and Nguyen Tien Minh added straight games to move the team ever closer to the championship after eliminating Unysis.

Click here for complete Saturday results