Japan duos sweep doubles finals in Crowne Plaza Open

Japan’s badminton players showed off in the Badminton World Federation Grade 3 International Challenge tournament—the Crowne Plaza Northern Marianas Open 2024—as they stormed and swept the finals stage last Sunday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

Japanese duos swept the men’s, women’s, and mixed doubles finals—while only one division, the men’s singles finals, featured non-Japanese players. The women’s singles finals also featured Japanese players and was won by Kaoru Sugiyama.

The first of two International Challenge tilts on Saipan wrapped up with a men’s doubles finals win by Takumi Nomura and Yuichi Shimogami over Mahiro Kaneko and Shunya Ota, in a thriller, 22-20, 21-18 matchup.

Both dynamic duos exploded with energy on the court as they kept each other on their toes—vying for the upper hand and the win.

Each volley and point ignited war cries from each player as they took turns demolishing the birdie with each smash and attack. The first set saw a fight to the finish and culminated into a crucial tie, 20-20.

After about a 20-second volley, the advantage went to Nomura and Shimogami when Kaneko and Ota fell short with their return at the net. Then, the most important point came after an even longer volley at 30 seconds as both duos smashed and attacked their way in a battle that was eventually won by Nomura and Shimogami.

The second set was another lengthy battle as Nomura and Shimogami fell behind, 3-7, then 6-12. However, they then found their stride and placements as they went on to land consecutive points to catch up, 12-12.

But Nomura and Shimogami regrouped and reduced Kaneko and Ota to just six more points as they put their foot down and eventually took the win, 21-18.

In the mixed doubles finals, Yuichi Shimogami and Sayaka Hobara started off the finals round with a win over Tori Aizawa and Hina Osawa, 21-19, 21-12.

Shimogami and Hobara pulled away early in the first set, 9-5, then 12-7, but Aizawa and Osawa quickly caught up to get within one, 11-12. Aizawa and Osawa then tied the game up twice and finally bagged their first lead, 18-17. However, they would score only one more point as Shimogami and Hobara overpowered them with their better placement and attacks that led to Aizawa and Osawa’s errors.

Shimogami and Hobara then wrapped up the second set quickly to grab the win, 21-12.

Then, Mizuki Otake and Miyu Takahashi made light work of Miki Kanehiro and Rui Kiyama, 21-4, 21-10.

Otake and Takahashi breezed through the first as they set their afterburners to the highest setting and left Kanehiro and Kiyama reeling. They didn’t give Kanehiro and Kiyama a chance to breathe let alone score, and allowed just four points to take the first set as quickly as it started.

The second set saw Kanehiro and Kiyama try their best to not to fall behind as they did in the first, but Otake and Takahashi’s fiery momentum propelled them far ahead once again.

Before Kanehiro and Kiyama knew it, Otake and Takahashi were at an 18-6 lead. Otake and Takahashi then gave up four points before they upped the ante and won the finals after their dominating performance, 21-10.

Otake and Takahashi are both 21 years old and have been doubles partners since they were in high school. Takahashi said of their win, “[We’ve] won in Japan before, so [we’re] happy to win overseas.” They will then take on the BWF Super 100 in Indonesia this September.

Today, the Dove Saipan International 2024 begins and will take place until Saturday, July 13, also at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.