Top-seeded Rumbaka Hayom Dionysius of Indonesia overcame breathing problems to beat the unseeded Avihingsanon Suppanyu of Thailand 14-21, 21-15, 21-12 to clinch the men's singles title in the India Open Grand Prix badminton championship at KVBR Stadium here on Sunday.
In the women's singles final, the unseeded Hui Zhou of China shocked fifth-seeded Fransiska Ratnasari 21-13, 21-17.
World No. 52 Zhou took just 15 minutes to wrap up the first game with a near-perfect blend of aggression and tight defence. She also came up with the big smashes when it mattered the most.
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In the second game, there was little to choose between the two to start with as the scores were tied quite a few times till eight-all. But Ratnasari's game went awry in the face of some stunning, cross-court smashes by the Chinese girl. It was not just her power-play but even the drops unsettled the Indonesian opponent. Four big smashes in-a-row, just when Ratnasari threatened to come back into the game at 17-20, sealed the issue in favour of Zhou.
Absorbing
The 53-minute men's final was more absorbing with Suppanyu (World No. 155) not overawed by the fact that he was up against the World No. 19 player. The 21-year-old Suppanyu counter-attacked Rumbaka with a pleasing game at the net. His cross-court strokes too saw the Indonesian rattled. Rumbaka even conceded many negative points.
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But in the second game Rumbaka came up with some good smashes and also his returns were far more accurate. Engaging Suppanyu in long rallies and interspersing them with delectable net-dribbles, Rumbaka looked a much better player.
If Suppanyu, playing in his maiden Grand Prix final, had intentions of re-discovering his first-game form, it was not to be. Rumbaka, despite suffering from flu, soon unleashed a series of cross-court smashes which brooked no return. The match-winning point – a body smash which Suppanyu returned into the net – was perhaps symbolic of the controlled aggression from the Indonesian who picked his first big title of the year.
In the women's doubles final, unseeded Huan Xia and Tang Jinhua of China surprised third-seeded Ng Hui Ern and Ng Hui Lin of Malaysia with a 21-8, 21-19 win.
In men's doubles final late in the evening, the second-seeded Indonesian pair of Ahsan Mohammad and Septano Bona defeated top-seeded Gan Chai Teik and Tan Shen Bin of Malaysia 19-21, 21-15, 21-14.
The results: (finals):
Men's singles: Rumbaka Hayom Dionysius (Ina) bt Avihingsanon Suppanyu (Tha) 14-21, 21-15, 21-12.
Doubles: Ahsan Mohammad & Septano Bona (Ina) bt Gan Teik Chai & Tan ShenBin (Mas) 19-21, 21-15, 21-14.
Women's singles: Hui Zhou (Chn) bt Ratnasari Fransiska (Ina) 21-13, 21-17.
Doubles: Huan Zia & Tang Jinhua (Chn) bt Ng Hui Ern & Ng Hui Lin (Mas) 21-9, 21-19.
Mixed doubles: Liu Peixuan & Tang Jinhua (Chn) bt Ng Hui Lin & Gan Chai Teik (Mas) 21-17, 21-17.