Jonatan Christie (Photo by WIL)
Indonesian Jonatan Christie is on course for his fourth title of the season as teammates Sabar Karyaman Gutama-Moh Reza Pahlevi Isfahani scalped another top ranked Malaysians at the Hylo Open badminton championships.
Jonatan, who has the Korean Open, Denmark Open, French Open in the bag, advanced to the final after disposing French ace Alex Lanier 18-21, 21-19, 21-9 in the semi-finals.
The 28-year-old, who quit the Indonesian team to go independent, has been imperious form in recent times. His late surge, sees him on track to qualify for the season ending BWF World Tour Finals in December.
He will taje ob Denmark’s Magnus Johannesen, a member of Denmark’s victorious men’s team at the 2024 European Championships in the final.
The unseeded 23-year-old defeated another unseeded player, Finland’s Kalle Koljonen 21–13, 21–13 in the other semi-finals. Johannesen will be seeking to upgrade from his victory at the Austrian Open, a International Series event into a Super 500 series win.
Meanwhile, the duo of Sabar-Moh Reza, who had beaten top seeded Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik in the quarter-finals, followed it up by packing off third seeds Man Wei Chung-Tee Wai Kun 21-16, 21-15 in just 34-minutes.
It was the Indonesian pairs fourth victory over the Malaysians in four encounters.
They will take on two-time Olympic champion Chiu Hsiang Chieh and his new partner Wang Chi-lin in the final. They Chinese Taipei pair gunned down eight seeded teammates Lee Jhe-huei-Yang Po-hsuan 21-17, 16-21, 24-22 in their semi-final tie.
Another Indonesian is also in the running for a the title in Saarbrucken with top seeded Putri Kusuma Wardani storming into the final, crushing the hopes of Indian teenager, winning 21-7, 21-13.
She will take on Danish second seed Mia Blichfeldt, who had edged out teammate Line Christophersen 21-18, 7-21, 21-19 in her semi-finals.
SEMI-FINAL RESULTS
Men’s singles: Magnus Johannesen (Den) bt Kalle Koljonen (Fin) 21-13, 21-13; [2] Jonatan Christie (Ina) bt [4] Alex Lanier (Fra) 18-21, 21-19, 21-9
Men’s doubles: [6] Sabar Karyaman Gutama-Moh Reza Pahlevi Isfahani (Ina) bt [3] Man Wei Chong Kai WunTee (Mas) 21-16, 21-15; Chiu Hsiang Chieh-Wang Chi-lin (Tpe) bt [8] Lee Jhe-huei-Yang Po-hsuan (Tpe) 21-17, 16-21, 24-22
Women’s singles: [1] Putri Kusuma Wardani (Ina) bt Unnati Hooda (Ind) 21-7, 21-13; [2] Mia Blichfeldt (Den) bt [6] Line Christophersen (Den) 21-18, 7-21, 21-19
Women’s doubles: [7] Margot Lambert-Camille Pognante (Fra) bt [3] Chang Ching Hui-Yang Ching Tun (Tpe) 21-19, 21-16; [2] Hsu Yin-hui-Lin Jhih Yun (Tpe) bt Bengisu Ercetin-Nazlican Inci (Tur) 28-26, 21-15
Mixed doubles: [5]Mathias Christiansen-Alexandre Boje (Den) bt Ruben Garcia-Lucia Rodriguez (Esp) 21-12, 21-12; [2] Thom Gicquel-Delphine Delrue (Fra) bt [6] Ruttanapak Oupthong-Jhenicha Sudjaipraparat (Tha) 21-9, 13-21, 21-16
