(Photo IG/raymond.indra_)
Indonesian duo Raymond Indra-Nikolaus Joaquin scalped their third Malaysian pairing to storm into the men’s doubles final at the Australian Open badminton championships.
The world number 32 ranked pair picked up a clinical 21-15, 21-15 win over second seeds Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin in just over 40 minutes.
Indonesia are assured at least two titles at the championships after their pairings ensured of all-Indonesian finals in the men’s and women’s doubles.
Raymond-Nikolaus victory in the semi-finals comes just a day after they packed off world fifth ranked Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun in the quarter-finals. The Indonesians, who only forged their partnership in February, had also beaten another Malaysian pair Choong Hon Jian-Haikal Nazri in the second round.
The duo will now play Fajar Alfian-Muhammad Shohibul Fikri in the final. Fajar-Shohibul had upset teammates Sabar Karyaman Gutama-Moh Reza Pahlevi Ishfahani 21-15, 19-21, 21-16 in their semi-final tie.
Raymond-Nikolau will be looking to go one up on their runner-up finish at the Korean Masters a fortnight ago.
Korean women’s singles ace continued her relentless march towards a record breaking 10th title of the season after a 21-8, 21-6 demolition of third seeded Ratchanok Intanon of Thaialnd.
The top seeded Se-young will be up against Indonesian Putri Kusuma Wardani in the final. Putri was given a torrid time by Canadian Michelle Li before prevailing 17-21, 21-16, 21-18.
In the men’s singles, India’s Lakshya Sen, the 2021 World Championships bronze-medallist, showed immense mental toughness to recover from an opening-game setback and outlast second seeded Chou Tien Chen of Chinese Taipei 17-21, 24-22, 21-16 in a grueling 86-minute semifinal battle.
Laksya will be up against unseeded Yushi Tanaka in the final, after the Japanese upstart stunned fifth seeded Lin Chun-yi of Chinese Taipei 21-18, 21-15 in his semi-final tie.
Reigning world mixed doubles champions Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei stormed into the finals, after getting past Thailand’s Pakkapon Teeraratsakul-Sapsiree Taerattanachai 21-16, 21-14.
They play Indonesian second seeds Jafar HIdayatullah-Felisha Alberta Nathaniel Pasaribu in the final.
SEMI-FINAL RESULTS
Men’s Singles: Lakshya Sen (Ind) bt Chou Tien Chen (Tpe) 17-21, 24-22, 21-16; Yushi Tanaka (Jpn) Lin Chun-yi (Tpe) 21-18, 21-15
Men’s Doubles: Raymond Indra-Nikolaus Joaquin (Ina) bt Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin (Mas) 21-15, 21-15; Fajar Alfian-Muhammad Shohibul Fikri (Ina) bt Sabar Karyaman Gutama-Moh Reza Pahlevi Ishfahani (Ina) 21-15, 19-21, 21-16
Women’s Singles: An Se-young (Kor) bt Ratchanok Intanon (Tha) 21-8, 21-6; Putri Kusuma Wardani (Ina) bt Michelle Li (Can) 17-21, 21-16, 21-18
Women’s Doubles: Rachel Alleyssya Rose-Febi Setianingrum (Ina) bt Francesca Corbett-Jennie Gai (USA) 21-18, 21-19; Febriana Dwipuji Kusuma-Melisya Trias Puspitasari (Ina) Ririna Hiramoto-Kokona Ishikawa (Jpn)
Mixed Doubles: Chen Tang JIe-Toh Ee Wei (Mas) bt Pakkapon Teeraratsakul-Sapsiree Taerattanachai (Tha) 21-16, 21-14; Jafar HIdayatullah-Felisha Alberta Nathaniel Pasaribu (Ina) bt Ruttanapak Oupthong-Jhenicha Sudjaipraparat (Tha) 19-21, 21-13, 21-14
