MALAYSIA INT’L – Double bonus for Japan and Indonesia

Japan and Indonesia won two titles each while Malaysia took the mixed doubles at the Proton Malaysia International Challenge, held in Sandakan Sports Complex, Sabah.

Story and photos: Steve Mariyoh, Badzine Correspondent live in Sandakan.

Top-seeded Malaysians Tan Aik Quan / Lai Pei Jing won the mixed doubles final against Indonesia’s Anhar Andhika / Kesya Nurvita Hanadia 21-18, 21-17 but that was to be the only success on finals day for the home shuttlers.

In the women’s doubles final, the Malaysia’s third-seeded pair Lim Yin Loo / Marylen Ng were outmatched by the fourth seeds from Japan Naoko Fukuman / Kurumi Yonao. The Japanese pair won the match in straight games 21-16, 21-13 in just 46 minutes.

The third match was the most awaited match where the local favourite, third-seeded Mohamad Arif Abdul Latif of Malaysia was up against the first seed Alamsyah Yunus of Indonesia. This men’s singles final saw 3 thrilling games spanning 64 minutes.

The first game was in favour of the Indonesian 21-12. Mohamad Arif then took the second game 21-17. In the deciding game, both players gave all their best to win against each other but the Indonesian proved to be the better player, winning the deciding game 21-14.

It was the first title of 2011 for Yunus, who began the year ranked in the top 20 but he has come nowhere near the form that saw him take the India Open title last year.

Sixth-seeded Bellaetrix Manuputty of Indonesia, the heroine of Indonesia’s Universiade mixed team gold this past summer, clinched the women’s singles title against fellow Indonesian Desi Hera 21-19, 19-21, 21-16 in 50 minutes. Earlier, in the semi-finals, Bellaetrix had beaten the local favourite Sannatasah Saniru of Malaysia.

In the men’s doubles, eighth-seeded Takeshi Kamura / Keigo Sonoda of Japan stunned the sixth seeds from Chinese-Taipei Chen Chung Jen / Lin Yen Jui. They won in straight games 21-13, 21-17 in just 30 minutes.

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