China turned up at the Yonex-Sunrise India Open without many of their big names, but still returned with two doubles titles. 
Chai Biao/Hong Wei (Men’s Doubles) and Liu Cheng/Bao Yixin (Mixed Doubles) were the successful pairs. Japan claimed the Women’s Doubles title, with Misaki Matsutomo and Ayaka Takahashi winning their third BWF World Superseries title in the process, holding off China’s Luo Ying/Luo Yu 21-19 21-19.
The Luo twins took off at express pace, establishing a 12-4 lead before the Japanese worked their way back in. A 90-shot rally went in favour of Japan, helping them to 8-12, and they eventually caught up at 13.
From there the match swung Japan’s way, with Takahashi and Matsutomo showing greater variety to gain advantage over the rather uni-dimensional attack of the Luo twins. It was only midway in the second game that Luo Ying and Luo Yu attempted variations that helped them gain a brief lead, but it evaporated quickly as Matsutomo and Takahashi remained sharp at crucial points.
“We were down early in the match, but we just wanted to get into rhythm, and then we changed the course of the match,” said Matsutomo.
Denmark’s Joachim Fischer Nielsen and Christinna Pedersen failed at the last hurdle in defending their title against China’s Liu Cheng/Bao Yixin. The Danes had a handy 11-6 lead in the first, but were hampered by some erratic play at times, while Liu and Bao were steady throughout. The Danes couldn’t quite take advantage of their 17-15 lead in the second, and the match slipped away quickly.
“We had our chances today, but I made too many mistakes,” admitted Fischer.
“Our opponents are very good, they’re probably the second best team in China. Liu Cheng is 15 years younger, and his speed is good. But we will try to come back.”
China ensured a second title when Chai Biao/Hong Wei (featured image; right) dismantled the challenge of Denmark’s Mads Conrad-Petersen/Mads Pieler Kolding 21-18 21-14.
The Danes stayed close in the first game but suffered an unusually bad spell in the second. Chai and Hong kept their opponents constantly under fire, and eased to their first BWF World Superseries title as a pair.
For the day’s results, click here.
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