Categories: Sports

Carolina Marin reached final of the Indonesia Masters

Carolina Marin reached her first final since October the new season at the 2023 Indonesia Masters on Saturday (28 January).

The Rio 2016 Olympic badminton champion took 41 minutes to defeat Han Yue of the People’s Republic of China 21-15, 21-14, although she needed to come back from deficits in both games.

Han led 11-9 at the first break, but the 23-year-old Chinese started to miss the lines with Marin showing her trademark speed at the net to go into the lead.

The Spanish left-hander then reeled off six of the last seven points to take the opening game.

Han also led at the break in the second game, this time 11-8, but Marin won the first four points after the restart to go in front.

That soon became nine from 10 points with the three-time world champion going on to take victory.

In the final, she will face either China’s reigning Asian champion Wang Zhiyi or Republic of Korea’s third seed An Se Young who won last week’s India Open.

In the men’s singles, Indonesia’s Jonatan Christie delighted the Jakarta crowd by edging out Shi Yuqi 21-13, 15-21, 21-19 to reach his first final since last May’s Asian Championships.

The home favourite trailed 13-11 in the decider but won the next three points in succession to go in front as the decibel level rose inside the Gelora Bung Karno Sports Palace.

China’s former world number two drew level at 16-16, but Christie showed superb reflexes at the net to win the next two rallies.

Shi saved two match points, but the world number six clinched victory in 73 minutes at the third time of asking as he bids for his first title since last March’s Swiss Open.

Christie pumped his fists on the ground as he knelt on the ground in celebration with the roof almost coming off the arena.

There was more joy for the home fans as Chico Aura Dwi Wardoyo won another epic encounter against Ng Ka Long Angus of Hong Kong, China to set up an all-Indonesian final.

World number 23 Dwi Wardoyo, who took last year’s Malaysia Masters title, won 17-21, 27-25, 22-20 in 83 minutes.