In the finals of the BWF World Championships 2013, “Indonesian Lightning” Tontowi/ Liliyana took their first world title together 21-13, 16-21, 22-20, saving three match points and taking advantage of two fatal errors by opponent Ma Jin. This is the  third time Nasir has taken the world title, the first time being in 2007 with former partner Nova Widianto.

 

The mixed doubles champion of World Championships 2013 - Tontowi/ Liliyana 

 

Facing top seeds Xu Chen/ Ma Jin, Tontowi/ Liliyana were the underdogs after having lost six times and recording three wins in the previous meetings between the pairs, however, it was notable that the Indonesian pair won the last meeting between the two pairs at the Sudirman Cup 2013. This was probably why Tontowi/ Liliyana played with great confidence last night. The Indonesians took the first game with relative ease, with Nasir intercepting well at the net and Ahmad putting their opponents under a lot of pressure with powerful smashes. 

 

In the second half of the second game, Xu/ Ma, the winners at the London Olympics last year, finally found their rhythm and quickly turned the game around, taking the second game, 21-16 to draw even.

 

In the deciding game, it was a test of will. In the latter half of the game when the Indonesians were down by two points, some decisive play at the net by Nasir helped them draw level. Xu/ Ma went into a 20-17 lead and had three match points but their opponents would not give up their chance of taking the title and were not just able to pull level, they took five points in a row to claim the world title.

 

Indonesia also took gold in the men’s doubles.  Setiawan/ Ahsan have been on top form, first disposing of Chinese Taipei’s Lee Sheng Mu/ Tsai Chia Hsin in the quarter finals, then overcoming the reigning champions Cai Feng/ Fu Hai Feng, and then beating last year’s Olympic champions Denmark’s Boe/Mogensen. This was the only final decided in straight games, making it a decisive victory. 

 

Jang Ye Na had a championship to remember. In the semi-finals, with partner, Eon Hye Wo Jang, helped by Eon’s excellent shot distribution, she sent China’s Tian Qing/ Zhao Yun Lei packing; however, they faced China’s top pair Yu Yang/Wang Xiao Li in the final and went down in three games after a brave effort.

 

Jang Ye Na/ Eon Hye Won

Kim Ki Jung/ Kim Sa Rang

 

As for other ROK players/pairs, Kim Ki Jung/ Kim Sa Rang in the men’s doubles, Shin Baek Choe/ Eom Hye Won in the mixed doubles and Bae Youn Joo in the women’s singles all had to settle for reaching the semi-final stage. ROK took away one silver and three bronze medals in World Championships 2013.

 

( Edit by VICTOR Badminton )