Zheng/Huang Defend Indonesia Open Title

Zheng Si Wei (right) and Huang Ya Qiong (left). BETWEEN PHOTOs/Aditya Pradana Putra/tom.

JAKARTA - Chinese mixed doubles Zheng Si Wei/Huang Ya Qiong defended the Indonesia Open title for two consecutive years after overthrowing Japanese pair Yuta Watanabe/Arisa Higashino in the final round, Sunday, June 18. Zheng/Huang completed the first match of the Indonesia Open 2023 final at Istora Senayan Jakarta with a victory over Yuta/Arisa in two straight games 21-14, 21-11. The first game of the mixed doubles final took place quite strictly where the fight for points until the score was identical to decorate the scoreboard. Quoted from ANTARA, Yuta/Arisa had a temporary 4-2 lead before finally the Chinese pair were able to equalize again and lead lightly. Not wanting to give up, Yuta/Arisa tried to penetrate the Zheng/Huang solid defense, although in the end the first game interval was won by the world number one 11-9. After the first game interval, Yuta/Arisa are still trying hard to steal points by numbers. However, the combination of the fast attack and the strong defense of the Chinese doubles made the world's third-ranked mixed doubles to give up with a score of 21-14. The confidence of the Bamboo Curtain country pair continues into the second game, where Yuta/Arisa trailed very far 0-8 from their opponents. The first point was achieved hard by the Japanese pair before finally the second game interval was presented with a score of 11-3 for Zheng/Huang. After halftime, Yuta/Arisa, who were seen starting to get under pressure, could not rise by continuing to be massacred by five consecutive points by the Chinese pair until the scoreboard showed 16-3. Having won three points, Yuta/Arisa lost momentum again when Zheng/Huang did not relax attacks and defense and led very far 18-6. Confidence had approached Japan's doubles with the acquisition of four direct points, but Zheng/Huang showed their best abilities until finally the scoreboard showed 21-11, and they again claimed the title again at the Indonesia Open, and won 92,500 US dollars. "We felt that in the second half the strategy was a success, and we could play patiently and the opponent couldn't reply," Zheng said. With this victory, Zheng/Huang further took the 13-4 lead over Yuta/Arisa in 17 meetings. It is also a hat trick to win the BWF Super 1000 tournament for the Chinese representative this year after winning the All England and Malaysia Open. Meanwhile, in the final round of the Indonesia Open 2023, Indonesia has one representative in the men's singles number, namely Anthony Sinisuka Ginting who will face world number one Viktor Axelsen.