Popov wins rematch against Wang, three European mixed doubles duos make it to the Round of 16, and there’s more to come with second day of the Indonesia Masters still underway.
With the qualification rounds over at the DAIHATSU Indonesia Masters 2023 and some of the first Round of 32 matches having been played earlier today, this Wednesday was all about seeing who would make it to the fight for a spot in the quarterfinals. We’ve sadly had to say goodbye to some Europeans, but there are many who will be representing the continent in the next round.
Matches are still being played but we already have some wins to celebrate in what’s just another long day of badminton in the legendary Istora Senayan.
Pay-back time
2022 European Championships medallist Toma Junior Popov was to take on Wang Tzu Wei. The Chinese Taipei player, ranked just a few spots ahead of the Frenchman in the world ranking, was leading the head-to-head, 2-0.
In fact, their last encounter was in Popov’s home soil at the YONEX French Open 2022. It was a fierce clash in Paris and it’s been just the same today, with another three-game match. Only that this time, the French player got his revenge and made it 2-1 in their head-to-head with a win, 17-21, 21-19, 21-11.
Mixed pairs get the job done
After qualifying yesterday for the main show, Dutch duo Ties Van Der Lecq/ Debora Jille had yet another gruelling three-game match today against USA’s Vinson Chiu/ Jennie Gai. Van Der Lecq/ Jille started off by losing the first game but still had some fuel in the tank to turn it around and make it a win, 17-21, 21-19, 21-11.
Thom Gicquel/ Delphine Delrue have made it to the quarterfinals in two tournaments of the Asian leg so far and they’re on the right track in this third one of the trip. The third-seeded French pair have advanced to the Round of 16 with a win in straight games against India’s Ishaan Bhatnagar/ Tanisha Castro, India.
With a rather similar result, England’s Gregory Mairs/ Jenny Moore succeeded in their first-ever performance at the Indonesia Masters, winning 21-15 21-16 against home pair Zachariah Josiahno Sumanti/ Hediana Julimarbela.