INDONESIA GPG 2013 SF – Indonesia and China book all 5 titles

China’s ladies booked all-Chinese finals in both ladies’ disciplines while Indonesia locked up the other three titles on semi-finals day at the Yonex-Sunrise Indonesia Open Grand Prix Gold in Yogyakarta

By Mathilde Liliana Perada, Badzine Correspondent live in Yogyakarta.  Photos: Ira Ratnati for Badzine (live).

No ladies but China

The threat from China’s young women shuttlers became a nightmare for the host representatives. Yao Xue was the first to send off an Indonesian in the women’s singles, beating Maria Febe Kusumastuti.

It was easy going for the world #45 in the first game, which she took 21-11. Febe tried to steal the second game, keeping the score close but after the interval, Yao Xue stepped it up to make sure she made a Grand Prix Gold final and took it in two.

“I applied the wrong strategy and it impacted my perfomance,” said Maria Febe afterward. “She’s a strike player but I am more a rally player and I often got carried away in the way she plays.”

In the other semi-final, Aprilia Yuswandari took on Suo Di but the #2 seed ceded the other spot in the final to China as well.

“It was a tough match because my opponent comes from Indonesia. She is popular in her country and I am a young player from China, so I had to prepare very well and I had to struggle until the winning point. I’m very happy to have reached my first Grand Prix Gold final,” Suo Di explained.

Similar things happened in the women’s doubles sector. Singapore #1 women’s doubles shuttlers, Yao Lei and Yogyakarta native Shinta Mulia Sari, had to concede defeat after three games against Huang Dongping / Jia Yifan, when the Asian Junior Champions pulled through with the 21-15, 16-21, 21-13 victory.

In the other semi-final, the last remaining host women’s doubles pair were unable to prevent the all-Chinese final as twin sisters Luo Ying / Luo Yu beat Australian Open champions Vita Marissa / Aprilsasi Putri Lejarsar Variella in straight games 21-17, 21-15.

Men and mixed to Indonesia

Indonesia had already locked up the men’s singles and doubles titles after booking two all-Indonesian semi-finals. Top seed and 2011 finalist Tommy Sugiarto was forced to bow to his team-mate Simon Santoso’s excellence and experience and failed to enter a second final. Tommy played under pressure in the first game and trailed Simon until the end of the game.

The Singapore Superseries 2013 winner changed the way he played and tried to attack in the second game and succeeded in forcing a rubber game. The third game was a tighter contest but Simon made sure of his place in the final match, winning 21-14, 13-21, 21-17 in 69 minutes.

“I tried to attack from the beginning of the match not only with smash but also with netting to pressure him,” said Simon Santoso afterward.  “I tried to play patiently and reduce unforced errors.

“My strategy succeeded in the first game. In the second game, Tommy played more aggressively so my game started to sag. I changed to being more patient and tried to keep the rhythm of the game and finally was able to win.”

Simon will now meet 2011 champion Dionysius Hayom Rumbaka who received a walkover from defending champion Sony Dwi Kuncoro, because of a right ankle injury.

In the men’s doubles, Ronald Alexander / Selvanus Geh continued to surprise as they reached their first Grand Prix Gold final. After beating the current World Champions in the quarter-finals, they played full of confidence in the semis and take the place in the final by beating 2007 World Champion Markis Kido and new partner Gideon Markus Fernaldi.

“We were very happy after our quarter-final match yesterday and that win gave us more confidence and strength for the match today,” said Ronald.  “We’re proud because we can fight and win over our seniors.”

They will be facing Angga Pratama / Ryan Agung Saputra in the final after Ricky Karanda Suwardi withdrew a lower back injury.

The mixed doubles final will feature home favourites Tontowi Ahmad / Liliyana Natsir versus Praveen Jordan / Vita Marissa. Tontowi Ahmad / Liliyana Natsir advanced to the finals after bending China’s Huang/Chen 21-15, 21-17 in 28 minutes.

“Our opponents were not difficult and we couldn’t show our best performance. We’re happy to win and we promise to give our best in the match tomorrow,” said Liliyana.

Click here for complete semi-final results