China's Zhang Shuxian (L) and Liu Shengshu celebrate on the podium with their gold medals after winning the women's doubles title at the Indonesia Masters badminton tournament in Jakarta, Indonesia, January 29, 2023. /CFP
Chinese shuttlers collected two gold medals at the 2023 Indonesia Masters in Jakarta on Sunday.
Women's doubles pair Liu Shengshu and Zhang Shuxian beat the Japanese duo Yuki Fukushima and Sayaka Hirota 22-20, 21-19 in a match full of long rallies, which tested the nerves and stamina of both the pairs.
"This is the first time for us to compete as a pair, and surprisingly we've made this far. Originally, we wanted to use this tournament to learn from more senior players," Zhang said after the final.
Zhang was formerly paired with Zheng Yu, with the duo reaching No. 4 in the world. Her current partner Liu, 18, is the reigning world junior champion in both women's and mixed doubles categories.
China's Feng Yanzhe (R) and Huang Dongping celebrate after winning the mixed doubles final match at the Indonesia Masters badminton tournament in Jakarta, Indonesia, January 29, 2023. /CFP
In the mixed doubles, China's Feng Yanzhe and Huang Dongping beat their compatriots Jiang Zhenbang and Wei Yaxin in a tough three-game set.
"I'm very happy to win this game. When I first paired up with Huang, I was quite surprised and nervous since she has won an Olympic gold medal," said Feng.
Indonesia's winner Jonatan Christie holds his trophy and medal at the award ceremony at the Indonesia Masters badminton tournament in Jakarta, Indonesia, January 29, 2023. /CFP
In the men's singles, with world No. 1 Viktor Axelsen withdrawing from the tournament due to fatigue, Indonesia's Asian Games badminton champion Jonatan Christie clinched his first Indonesia Masters in front of home crowd after defeating his unseeded compatriot Chico Aura Dwi Wardoyo 21-15, 21-13.
South Korea's An Se-young secured two victories in three women's singles finals in the new season, as An, who turns 21 on Sunday, defeated former world No. 1 Carolina Marin 18-21, 21-18, 21-13.
Marin had won the first game and led 4-0 in the second, but the ninth-ranked Spaniard had no answer as An forced a rubber game and won it to complete her comeback.
"In the third game, I felt that I still had some energy. So I tried as best as I could for the remaining time," said the world No. 2.
Indonesia's 17th-ranked pair Leo Rolly Carnando and Daniel Marthin defeated China's world No. 21 duo He Jiting and Zhou Haodong 21-17, 21-16 to clinch the men's doubles title.
(With input from agencies)