Indonesian Shuttlers Bring Home Taiwan Titles

A week after watching Sony Dwi Kuncoro win the men’s singles championship in Indonesia Open Grand Prix Gold, more Indonesian shuttlers have stepped into the spotlight.

The mixed doubles pair of Muhammad Rijal and Debby Susanto beat Hong Kong’s Lee Chun Hei and Chau Hoi Wah 21-14, 21-14 to win the title at the Taiwan Open Grand Prix Gold in Taipei on Sunday.

The women’s doubles tandem of Pia Zebadiah and Rizki Amelia Pradipta had similar success with a 21-15, 21-12 triumph over fellow Indonesians Suci Rizky Andini and Della Destiara.

“Thank God, we won our fourth title,” Pia said. “It’s not easy to win it.

“This will help us as we start to focus on our next events in the Netherlands, Denmark and France.”

This was the fourth title for Pia and Rizki this year. The duo found success at the Ciputra Hanoi Vietnam International Challenge in April, followed by back-to-back titles in the Victor Indonesia International Challenge, and the Yonex Sunrise Vietnam Open Grand Prix in July and August respectively.

The Rijal-Debby combination was the top seed among mixed doubles teams, and were coming off a second-place finish in last week’s Indonesia Open Grand Prix Gold in Palembang. They fell to compatriots Liliyana Natsir and Tontowi Ahmad 21-19, 21-14 in the final.

Indonesia had hoped to find further success in Taipei but came up short.

Lindaweni Fanetri lost to Taiwan’s Tzu Yung Tai 21-19, 20-22, 22-20 in a championship match that lasted 72 minutes.

The top-seeded men’s doubles team of Angga Pratama and Rian Agung Saputro also lost in the final.

They lost to No. 2 seed Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif and Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari of Malaysia, 21-12, 21-14.

Angga and Ryan have yet to win a title this year. They finished second last week after losing to South Korean’s Ki jung-kim and Sa Ring-kim.

Indonesian badminton is rebuilding after a disappointing Olympic campaign.

Antara & JG