INDONESIA OPEN 2017 QF – Home Upset, Home Hope

The home hopes continued as three representatives, one in each doubles discipline, made it into semi-finals of the 2017 BCA Indonesia Open Superseries Premier.

By Mathilde Liliana Perada, Badzine Correspondent live in Jakarta.  Photos: Badmintonphoto (live)

Anggia Shitta Awanda / Ni Ketut Mahadewi Istirani (pictured top) will face the world #1 pair Chen Qingchen / Jia Yifan after they beat Thailand’s Puttita Supajirakul / Sapsiree Taerattanachai in three games.  Unfortunately, their compatriots Della Destiara Haris / Rosyita Eka Putri Sari had to admit Chang Ye Na / Lee So Hee’s superiority.

Chang / Lee will be looking for their fifth victory over Japan’s Koharu Yonemoto / Shiho Tanaka tomorrow, after they marked their name in the semi-final by beating Della Destiara Haris / Rosyita Eka Putri Sari (pictured below) 17-21 21-13 21-13.

“Today’s match was more difficult than yesterday. The opponents played very well, their defence was strong,” said Chang Ye Na (pictured right, with Lee So Hee).

She added that the home crowd caused them to lose their focus in the first game, but they managed their performance well to take the last two: “We’re usually not influenced by the crowd but we couldn’t handle it in the first game today.”

The Indonesians felt disappointed and regretted by the result. “We won the first game then lost the momentum in the second. We should have been more confident after the first game but we couldn’t get out of the pressure in the second game,” Putri Sari said after the match.

Haris added that the Korean pair couldn’t avoid unforced errors at the beginning of the match then they managed to change their game: “Their defense became more focused in the deciding game and we didn’t anticipate it,” Haris said.

In mixed doubles, Chan Peng Soon paired with the much younger Peck Yen Wei and beat Lu/Chiang of Chinese Taipei to set up a challenge against home favourites Tontowi Ahmad / Liliyana Natsir (pictured below) in the semis.

“Our draw was quite lucky.  We didn’t have to play against China in the second round because Lu Kai was not in good condition. We played with no pressure today and then made it to semi-final,” said Chan.

He added that they will play with no pressure in the semi-final, unburdened by the 1-9 against Ahmad/Natsir that he has in his partnership with Goh Liu Ying: “I think Ahmad and Natsir will feel more pressure because we are a new pairing.”

The other match with successful home shuttlers saw Fajar Alfian and Rian Ardianto (pictured bottom) progress 21-13, 18-21, 21-12 against another Thai pairing, Kittinupong Kedren / Dechapol Puavaranukroh. The Indonesians will meet second seeds Mathias Boe / Carsten Mogensen, who sent out Vladimir Ivanov / Ivan Sozonov in straight games.

Tai’s winning streak ends

The quarter-final saw Thai shuttler Nitchaon Jindapol (pictured) stop the #1 seeded Tai Tzu Ying’s incredible winning streak, which stretched all the way back to the Dubai semi-finals. Jindapol had never beaten Tai before, losing all 7 of her 7 matches against the Chinese Taipei player. However, Jindapol did not think about her unfortunate past record and kept trying her best.

“I relaxed and enjoyed the match today. I didn’t think too much, I just kept my mind to focus on every single point. It’s the first time I beat her and I am really excited,” said the 26-year-old Thai.

Jindapol started the first game well, taking it 21-19. Tai Tzu Ying tried to keep her performance on track and led throughout the second but she couldn’t take the opportunity to win after leading 17-15 in the deciding game, losing 6 consecutive points to be sent home.

“I didn’t play well. I had no pressure to play as defending champion, I’m just not in a good condition today,” said Tai.

Click here for complete quarter-final results