Indonesia is considered as a “factory” for the world's elite men's doubles. Many doubles came from this country, especially since the 1990s, an era when Markis Kido/Hendra Setiawan successfully won the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Today, Indonesia has Marcus Fernaldi Gideon/Kevin Sanjaya Sukamulja.
Nonetheless, it took Indonesia 13 years to end their thirst for the Asian title in this number. After Kido/Setiawan in 2009, Indonesia wasn’t able to win again until last night, when the medal was achieved by an unseeded pair.
It was Pramudya Kusumawardana/Yeremia Erich Yoche Yacob Rambitan who finally ended the long wait. The doubles who are only ranked #21 in the world was able to make a surprise. In the final match which was held in Manila, Philippines, Sunday (1/5/2021), they defeated 5th seed from Malaysia Aaron Chia/Soh Wooi Yik in two straight games 23-21, 21-10. This is the first title for them in 2022, after making a surprise last year by winning in two events namely the Belgian International and the Spain Masters. Aaron Chia/Soh Wooi Yik are not a couple to be trifled with. They are the bronze medalists of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. In fact, Aaron Chia/Soh Wooi Yik were able to beat Kusumawardana/Rambitan’s two seniors, Marcus Fernaldi Gideon/Kevin Sanjaya and Hendra Setiawan/Mohammad Ahsan.
Malaysia's loss in the men's doubles was made up for in the men's singles. The 3rd seed Lee Zii Jia was able to become the champion after defeating Indonesian mainstay Jonatan Christie in straight games 21-17, 23-21 which took 45 minutes. This result makes Lee Zii Jia follow in the footsteps of his senior, Lee Chong Wei who came out as Badminton Asia Champion in 2016 and 2006. This victory also made the 2021 All England champion reduce his loss to Jonatan Christie to 2-4.
In addition to men's doubles and men's singles, the other three titles, women's singles, women's doubles, and mixed doubles, were won by representatives of China. The women's singles was won by Wang Zhi Yi, an unseeded player who’s currently ranked #17. Then Chen Qing Chen/Jia Yi Fan won the women's doubles and Zheng Si Wei/Huang Ya Qiong won the mixed doubles.
Wang Zhi Yi's victory was over Japan's 1st seed Akane Yamaguchi with three games 15-21, 21-13, 21-19. This match was the longest match in the final round because it took 1 hour and 18 minutes. For Wang Zhi Yi, this result in Manila has made it the second time she has beaten Akane Yamaguchi. Wang won her first victory at the 2020 Indonesia Masters.
Meanwhile, in the women's doubles, powerful pair Chen Qing Chen/Jia Yi Fan stopped the Japanese pair Rin Iwanaga/Kie Nakanishi with two straight games 21-11, 21-15. On paper, Chen Qing Chen/Jia Yi Fan are indeed more favored because they are ranked #1 in the world while Rin Iwanaga/Kie Nakanishi is ranked #23. But, on the way to the final, the Japanese pair defeated the second seed from South Korea Lee Sohee/Shin Seungchan in the quarter-finals, and their Japanese compatriots who were seeded in 4th place Yuki Fukushima/Sayaka Hirota.
One more title for China in the mixed doubles had been confirmed the day before. This is because two Chinese pairs won the semifinal match. In the final round, the 1st seed Zheng Si Wei/Huang Ya Qiong defeated Wang Li Lyu/Huang Dong Ping, who was seeded in the 3rd place 21-17, 21-8. The second match took 37 minutes. This result made them avenge the defeat suffered in the final of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. (*)
