Young Indonesians Strike Big

Young Indonesian men’s doubles pairs upstaged their more experienced and accomplished compatriots to enter the semifinals of the HYLO Open 2021.

World junior champions Leo Rolly Carnando/Daniel Marthin got the better of world champions Mohammad Ahsan/Hendra Setiawan 22-20 21-17. That result set up a semifinal with Pramudya Kusumawardana/Yeremia Erich Yoche Yacob Rambitan, who had earlier upset third seeds Fajar Alfian/Muhammad Rian Ardianto 21-11 25-23 after saving three game points.

With top seeds Marcus Fernaldi Gideon/Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo also progressing to the semifinals, it will be up to Thailand’s Supak Jomkoh/Kittinupong Kedren to prevent an all-Indonesia final.

The Thais survived a three-game battle against Ben Lane/Sean Vendy 21-18 20-22 21-18.

Aoi Matsuda (left) and Chisato Hoshi.

In women’s doubles, another young Indonesian pair, Siti Fadia Silva Ramadhanti/Ribka Sugiarto pulled off a thrilling victory over fifth seeds Puttita Supajirakul/Sapsiree Taerattanachai, 21-15 22-24 21-16 after saving three match points in the second game.

However, their compatriots Nita Violina Marwah/Putri Syaikah went down to Japan’s Chisato Hoshi/Aoi Matsuda in the top half of the draw. Hoshi/Matsuda take on top seeds Jongkolphan Kititharakul/Rawinda Prajongjai, while Ramadhanti/Sugiarto face another Japanese pair, Rin Iwanaga/Kie Nakanishi, who proved too strong for home pair Linda Efler/Isabel Lohau.

In women’s singles, Turkey’s show-stealers Aliye Demirbag and Neslihan Yigit finally ran out of steam. Demirbag was stopped by third seed Michelle Li, while Yigit ran into Busanan Ongbamrungphan. Michelle Li takes on Singaporean Yeo Jia Min, and Ongbamrungphan faces Phittayaporn Chaiwan in an all-Thai semifinal.

Lakshya Sen in flight.

In men’s singles, Kidambi Srikanth held off a late charge by Ng Ka Long Angus to set up a semifinal against All England champion Lee Zii Jia. Kidambi led 20-15 but Angus saved four match points before the Indian converted his fifth opportunity, 21-11 12-21 21-19.

In the other half, Lakshya Sen similarly held off a battling charge from fellow 20-year-old Kunlavut Vitidsarn. The Thai saved four match points before succumbing on the fifth. Next up for him will be Singapore’s Loh Kean Yew, who earned a hard-fought win over Rasmus Gemke after saving a match point, 21-11 19-21 22-20.

Both semifinals in mixed doubles feature Thailand versus Indonesia contests. Top seeds Dechapol Puavaranukroh/Sapsiree Taerattanachai face Rinov Rivaldy/Pitha Haningtyas Mentari, while second seeds Praveen Jordan/Melati Daeva Oktavianti take on Supak Jomkoh/Supissara Paewsampran.

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