BAD fans

7 December 2008

Vietnamese hero Nguyen Tien Minh emerged victorious on home ground against Hong Kong’s Chan Yan Kit in a tooth-and-nail battle in Sunday’s men’s singles final at the Yonex-Sunrise Vietnam Open Grand Prix. The support of his home crowd helped Nguyen to his ever first Grand Prix title. Singapore came so far but its pairs’ winning streaks came up against an Indonesian wall in both mixed and women’s doubles but Singapore and neighbouring Malaysia had one winner each to cheer about on Sunday.

The Vietnamese hero Nguyen Tien Minh warmed the hearts of his people when he emerged victorious in straight games against Hong Kong’s Chan Yan Kit. Both players wanted victory so much that it resulted in a neck-and-neck game, yet unforced errors from Chan Yan Kit eventually allowed Nguyen Tien Minh to take his first ever Grand Prix title with the support of his home crowd.

Chan was initially leading in the first game, however Nguyen’s dynamic swift moments on court eventually enabled him to catch up and take the lead.  After much catching up and hanging on past the initial 20-all tie, Nguyen managed to take the first game with the score of 24-22. In the second game, it was evident that Nguyen’s never-say-die attitude pushed him to score points more easily and kept him in a more stable position. He eventually defeated Chan in straight games by scores of 24-22, 21-18. This therefore, ended Chan’s attempt at winning an international title, at least in this Grand Prix.

In the all-Singapore women’s singles final, both Zhang Beiwen and Xing Aiying gave their all and pushed it right to the end of their three close games. Unexpectedly, it was the younger player, Zhang Beiwen, who defeated Xing Aiying 11-21, 21-19, 22-20.  Xing Aiying, who beat Zhang the last time the two met in international play, had a tough time against Zhang Beiwen in a match that took all of 60 minutes. The dynamic Zhang Beiwen might just be the next one to look out for in the badminton arena.

In the women’s doubles, hot favourites Shendy Puspa Irawati and Meiliana Jauhari of Indonesia emerged victorious against the Singaporeans Sari Shinta Mulia and Yao Lei in three fierce games that ended 21-16, 19-21, 21-11. Both pairs showed strong determination in wanting to win their first Grand Prix title in the Vietnam Open 2008. Although Sari and Yao tried their best to even the score after their stronger opponents’ win in the final Indonesia Challenge, they managed only to last one more game than they did in August before again coming up short in the end.

In the mixed doubles finals, Vanessa Neo/Riky Widianto could not upset the newly-formed Indonesian mixed doubles pair, Shendy Puspa/Ahmad Tantowi. The Indonesian pair defeated the Singapore players easily in straight games with the scores of 21-17, 21-9.  The victory gave Irawati two Grand Prix wins, one with her regular women’s doubles partner, Meiliana Jauhari, and one with her new partner Ahmad Tantowi.

There are now four Malaysian and six Indonesian pairs among the top 20 in the men’s doubles world.  Sunday’s final in Ho Chi Minh City saw a matchup between  two pairs who just happen to be bringing up the rear of these impressive battalions.  Long-time partners Choong Tan Fook and Lee Wan Wah of Malaysia, won their first international title since the 2007 Asian Championships when they easily defeated the Indonesian pair Kurniawan Fran and Rendra Wijaya in just 25 minutes with scores of 21-14, 21-10. The Malaysians have once again proven that with their skilled play, they can overcome whatever tricks their age may play on them.

The Vietnam Open Grand Prix 2008 has witnessed several twists and turns, rising stars like Shendy Puspa Irawati winning 2 Grand Prix titles and a possible sparkling new partnership with Ahmad Tantowi may bring a new scene in the badminton arena.  The Singapore team showed youth and potential and Indonesia’s Kurniawan and Wijaya, despite losing this time to the Malaysian masters, still made it to a remarkable 7th final on the year and will definitely be a team to watch in 2009.  None could match the sweetness of Nguyen Tien Minh’s victory, which should put the world #17 firmly on the map both at home and abroad.

Results:

MS : NGUYEN, Tien Minh [VIE] beat CHAN, Yan Kit [HKG] 21-15 21-16

WS : ZHANG, Beiwen [SIN] beat XING, Aiying [SIN] 11-21 21-19 22-20

MD : CHOONG, Tan Fook/LEE, Wan Wah [MAS] beat KURNIAWAN, Fran/RENDRA, Wijaya [INA] 21-14 21-10

WD : IRAWATI, Shendy Puspa/JAUHARI, Meiliana [INA] beat SARI, Shinta Mulia/YAO, Lei [SIN] 21-16 19-21 21-11

XD : AHMAD, Tantowi/IRAWATI, Shendy Puspa [INA] beat WIDIANTO, Riky/NEO, Yu Yan Vanessa [SIN] 21-17 21-9

Official website : http://www.vietnambadminton.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2931