Japan and Thailand win thrillers to make the semi-finals
Japan came back from 2-0 down to snatch a 3-2 win over Indonesia in their quarter-final tie in the inaugural Robot Badminton Asia Mixed Team Championships at the Nguyen Du Cultural Sports Club in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam on Friday.
In another quarter-final match Thailand turned a 2-1 deficit into a 3-2 victory over India.
In the semi-finals on Saturday the Japanese are expected to face top seeds China who played Malaysia in a late match while Thailand will be up against either second seeds Korea or Taiwan.
Indonesia won the men's doubles through Angga Pratama-Ricky Karanda Suwardi who stunned Takeshi Kamura-Keigo Sonoda 22-20, 12-21, 21-14 in 53 minutes in the first match.
It was 2-0 for Indonesia when Hanna Ramadini gave a fighting display to upset her more experienced her opponent Sayaka Sato in straight sets 21-18, 23-21 which kept the fans on their feet throughout the 50 minute match.
However, Kenta Nishimoto put Japan back on track with a 21-15, 21-16 win over Muhammad Bayu Pangisthu - a defeat which Indonesia team manager Lius Pongoh said turned the tide in Japan's favour.
World No 1 and reigning Olympic champions Misaki Matsutomo-Ayaka Takahashi stamped their class with 21-14, 21-13 win over Anggia Shitta Awanda-Tiara Rosaila Nuraidah in the women's doubles to make it 2-2.
Indonesia still had a chance and were confident of clinching the winner in the mixed doubles but it turned out to be a big disappointment when the experienced Edi Subaktiar-Annisa Saufika fell 16-21, 17-21 to Japan's 9-year-olds Yuta Watanabe-Arisa Higashino in 42 minutes.
"We should have sealed the third point through the mixed doubles because Edi and Annisa had experience on their side. But the failed to raise their game against the yong Japanese pair," said a disappointed Pongoh.
On the men's singles, Pongoh said: "Bayu also played a below par game...he is capable of a better show."
Japan head coach Park Joo Bong was elated with his team's fightback and praised his players for their fighting spirit.
"The mixed doubles was a 50-50 chance but Watanabe and Higashino showed their potential to give us the vital point," said Joo Bong.
India lost their match against the Thais when newly crowned Syed Modi Grand Prix Gold winners Pranaav Jerry Chopra-N. Sikki Reddy fell to a 25-23, 21-10, 21-10 defeat to Dechapol Puavaranukroh-Savitree Amitrapai in the mixed doubles Thailand's first point.
H.S, Prannoy won his singles match against Suppanyu Avihingsanon 21-18, 21-15 which was followed by a 21-19, 21-16 victory in the men's doubles by Olympians Manu Attri-B. Sumeeth Reddy over Kittinupong Kedren-Nipitphon Phuangphuapet for India to lead 2-1.
Pornpawee Chochuwong, however, kept Thailand in the hunt, coming back from a set down to beat Rituparna Das 11-21, 21-12, 21-15 in the women's singles.
Jongkolphan Kititharakul-Rawinda Prajongjai clinched the winning point for Thailand - with a three-set thriller 15-21, 21-17, 21-7 over Ashwini Ponnappa-N. Sikki Reddy in the women's doubles.
"Our partnership is new and succumbed to nerves when it mattered most," said Ashwini after the match.
QUARTER-FINAL RESULTS (Thurs 17 Feb)
JAPAN 3 INDONESIA 2
(Japan first)
MS: Kenta Nishimoto beat Muhammad Bayu Pangisthu 21-15, 21-16
WS: Sayaka Sato lost to Hanna Ramadini 18-21, 21-23
MD: Takeshi Kamura-Keigo Sonoda lost to Angga Pratama-Ricky Karanda Suwardi 20-22, 21-17, 14-21
WD: Misaki Matsutomo-Ayaka Takahashi beat Anggia Shitta Awanda-Tiara Rosalia Nuraidah 21-14, 21-13
XD: Yuta Watanabe-Arisa Higashino beat Edi Subaktiar-Annisa Saufika 21-16, 21-17
THAILAND 3 INDIA 2
(Thailand first)
MS: Suppanyu Avihingsanon lost to H. S. Prannoy 18-21, 15-21
WS: Pornpawee Chochuwong beat Rituparna Das 11-21, 21-12, 21-15
MD: Kittinupong Kedren-Nipitphon Phuangphuapet lost to Manu Attri-B. Sumeeth Reddy 19-21, 16-21
WD: Jongkolphan Kititharakul-Rawinda Prajongjai beat Ashwini Ponnappa-N. Sikki Reddy 15-21, 21-17, 21-7
XD: Dechapol Puavaranukroh-Savitree Amitrapai beat Pranaav Jerry Chopra-N. Sikki Reddy 23-25, 21-10, 21-10
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