By Admin 
China got redemption for the loss in last year’s final as it took down Indonesia 45-30, 45-44 to clinch its 15th title at the World junior mixed team badminton championships (Suhandinata Cup) here on Saturday.
Japan and India, the losing semifinalists, were awarded the bronze medals.
The Indian junior badminton team won the bronze medal.
| Photo Credit:
RITU RAJ KONWAR
The summit clash, played in front of a near-capacity crowd at the National Tennis Centre, was a tale of two halves. After China won all five matches to sweep the first set, Indonesia fought back.
With a boisterous Indonesian bench trying to recreate the atmosphere of the iconic Istora Senayan, Riska Anggraini and Rinjani Kwinnara Nastine beat Cao Zi Han and Chen Fan Shu Tian in girls’ doubles 9-5.
When Ikhsan Lintang Pramudya joined Nastine for mixed doubles and stretched the lead to 13-7, everything seemed to be signalling towards a decider. Chen Jun Ting and Cao, though, had other ideas, and won 11 of the next 12 points to bring China back into the contest.
Liu Si Ya and Liu Yang Ming Yu held Thalita Ramadhani Wiryawan and Mohammad Zaki Ubaidillah respectively to 9-9 draws in the two singles encounters to keep China four points ahead.
A sense of deja vu struck China.
Similar to its nervous semifinal finish against Japan, the men’s doubles duo of Ting and Liu Jun Rong almost squandered the advantage. Indonesia substituted Alexius Ongkytama Subagio with Muhammad Rizki Mubarrok as Raihan Daffa Edsel Pramono’s partner. Leading 44-43, Mubarrok and Pramono had two opportunities to take the final to a third set, but both netted the shuttle one after the other to end the tie.
The result: Final: China bt Indonesia 45-30, 45-44.
Set 1: Match 1 (Girls’ Doubles): Cao Zi Han/Chen Fan Shu Tian 9-8 Riska Anggraini/Rinjani Kwinnara Nastine
Match 2 (Mixed Doubles): Chen Jun Ting/Cao Zi Han 18-15 Ikhsan Lintang Pramudya/Rinjani Kwinnara Nastine
Match 3 (Girl’s Singles): Liu Si Ya 27-20 Thalita Ramadhani Wiryawan
Match 4 (Boy’s Singles): Liu Yang Ming Yu 36-27 Mohammad Zaki Ubaidillah
Match 5 (Boy’s Doubles): Chen Jun Ting/Liu Jun Rong 45-30 Raihan Daffa Edsel Pramono/Alexius Ongkytama Subagio
Set 2: Match 1 (Girls’ Doubles): Cao Zi Han/Chen Fan Shu Tian 5-9 Riska Anggraini/Rinjani Kwinnara Nastine
Match 2 (Mixed Doubles): Chen Jun Ting/Cao Zi Han 18-14 Ikhsan Lintang Pramudya/Rinjani Kwinnara Nastine
Match 3 (Girls’ Singles): Liu Si Ya 27-23 Thalita Ramadhani Wiryawan
Match 4 (Boys’ Singles): Liu Yang Ming Yu 36-32 Mohammad Zaki Ubaidillah
Match 5 (Boys’ Doubles): Chen Jun Ting/Liu Jun Rong 45-44 Raihan Daffa Edsel Pramono/Muhammad Rizki Mubarrok