INDONESIA GPG 2010 Finals – Ratchanok strikes again

The Indonesia Open Grand Prix Gold 2010 ended on Sunday with happy news for badminton fans all over the world, as they will see tougher competition in women’s singles  in the years to come.  Ratchanok Intanon has entered the international stage with another bang.

By Pendi Kwok, Badzine correspondent. Photos: Ira Ratnati (live)

At the tender age of 15, Ratchanok Intanon (photo) has won 2 senior titles in a row within 2 weeks time.  She triumphed in the Vietnam Open Title last weekend and grabbed her first Grand Prix Gold title in Samarinda, East Kalimantan this Sunday, defeating Cheng Shao Chieh, 21-12, 19-21 and 21-16.

As the score shows, it was not an easy match for the young Thai, as Cheng gave a strong fight.  The first game went for Ratchanok quite easily as she dominated the game with her tricky netting and great defense.  Cheng’s attacks could not get through Ratchanok’s defense, instead, it was Cheng who made many mistakes. It was over 21-12 for the Thai.

Cheng was more tactful during the second game.  Helped by ample mistakes by Ratchanok, whose lobs went too long several times, the Taiwanese led 9-5 in the beginning.  But Ratchanok fought back with her attacking play. After pounding a sharp smash which could not be returned by Cheng, Ratchanok took the lead back at 14-13. But Cheng remained patient and her safe play was good enough to win more points than Ratchanok.  Cheng ended the second game with a cross-court drop shot, winning 21-19.

After losing the second game, Ratchanok changed her strategy.  She attacked fiercely with cross-court drop shots, attacking lobs, tricky shots, smashes and cross-court netting, she had it all.  Cheng was also playing at her best level, but it was not enough to break through Ratchanok’s great defense.  Cheng seemed clueless on how to stop Ratchanok.  She trailed at 7-15, then her defensive play helped her to reduce the gap to 10-16. At that point, Ratchanok fell down when she returned Cheng’s drop shot on the right side, Cheng then pushed the shuttle back to Ratchanok’s backhand side. But still, Ratchanok managed to return the shuttle, whereupon Cheng hit the net: 17-10 for Ratchanok.  After that great save, Ratchanok seemed to be limping and Cheng took the advantage of that.  She was able to close the gap to 16-19, but again, Ratchanok’s determination earned her a championship point at 20-16. After the final victory, she sat down on the court and looked in pain and tired.  As usual, after winning the game, she knelt down and showed her “Anjali” to the crowd.

Taufik Hidayat (photo) defeated his younger team-mate, Dionysius Hayom Rumbaka, 26-28, 21-17 and 21-14, to take the title.  It was Taufik’s second title of the year and his first at the Grand Prix Gold level since his title in India in the spring of 2009.  For Dionysius, this is a more than respectable showing in his first Grand Prix Gold final.

Luo and Luo on top

Another great match came from women’s doubles, where Luo Ying/Luo Yu (China) faced number one seed, Meiliana Jauhari/Greysia Polii (Indonesia).  The Indonesian pair looked so strong in the first game and beginning of the second, while the Chinese made a shaky start.  Meiliana and Greysia took the first game easily 21-11.  They continued to dominate when they led 11-5 in the second and it seemed that they would win the title.  However, like the other Chinese ladies pairs, Luo/Luo showed their mental strength and slowly crawled back to tie at 12-12.  The Chinese became more consistent and powerful.  They kept on attacking Meiliana/Greysia.  The more experienced Indonesians fell down several times when they tried to return attacking shots from the teenaged twins, but the Chinese finally won the second game 21-18.

In the third game, it was all Luo/Luo’s show.  They were so confident and sharp, while the Indonesian seemed exhausted and confused, but they still managed to give some interesting and long rallies.  The Chinese led all the way to win the third set at 21-11 and won the women’s doubles title.

In the men’s doubles, Mohammad Ahsan/Bona Septano (Indonesia) won the title after Yonatan Suryatama Dasuki/Rian Sukmawan (Indonesia) retired due to injury.  Ahsan and Septano were leading at 21-16, 18-17 when their opponents decided to throw in the towel.

The shortest match was the mixed doubles, where Indonesia’s Tontowi Ahmad/Liliyana Natsir (photo) became the champions after beating their compatriots Markis Kido and Lita Nurlita  21-11, 21-13, in just 19 minutes.  It was Ahmad/Natsir’s second title in three tournaments (and three finals) as a pair and gives them a boost going into the Asian Games as Indonesia’s premier pair.

Final Results

MS: Taufik Hidayat (INA) beat Dionysius Hayom Rumbaka (INA): 26-28, 21-17, 21-14
WS: Ratchanok Intanon (THA) beat Cheng Shao Chieh (TPE): 21-12, 19-21, 21-16
MD: Ahsan/Septano (INA) beat Dasuki/Sukmawan (INA): 21-16, 18-17 Ret.
WD: Luo/Luo (CHN) beat Jauhari/Polii (INA): 11-21, 21-18, 21-11
MX: Ahmad/Natsir (INA) beat Kido/Nurlita (INA): 21-11, 21-13

For complete results from the 2010 Bankaltim Indonesia Grand Prix Gold, CLICK HERE