Chinese-Taipei sweeps 3 divisions

The men’s singles champion, unranked Liao Jhuo-Fu of Chinese-Taipei, leaps for a return in the second set of his finals match against No. 7 South Korean Jeon Hyeok Jin during the Crowne Plaza Northern Marianas Open 2023 at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium yesterday afternoon.(LEIGH GASES)

Chinese-Taipei swept their competition in the finals of the women’s doubles, men’s singles, and men’s doubles of the first badminton 2024 Paris Olympics qualifier in the CNMI—the Crowne Plaza Northern Marianas Open 2023—at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium yesterday afternoon.

No. 1 seed Hsu Ya Ching and Lin Wan Ching came out on top of the women’s doubles after an excruciatingly close match against No. 4 seed Lee Yu Lim and Shin Seung Chan of South Korea. 

Masterful after masterful strokes of their rackets created an unforgettable Olympic qualifier finals that the CNMI’s audience would not soon forget. From the first set, both teams were evenly matched as the set ended with a close 21-19 score in favor of Chinese-Taipei.

The second set was even more of a nailbiter when it seemed like Chinese-Taipei would win it all, but South Korea’s dynamic duo fought for the tie-breaking third set when they got away with 21-18.

No. 1 seeds Hsu Ya Ching, right, and Lin Wan Ching of Chinese-Taipei came out on top of the women’s doubles finals after defeating No. 4 seed Lee Yu Lim and Shin Seung Chan of South Korea in the Crowne Plaza Northern Marianas Open 2023 at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium yesterday afternoon.(LEIGH GASES)

The third set was fought tooth and nail but early on, it seemed Hsu and Lin would come out on top, however, Lee and Shin came back from a 4-9 deficit and turned the tables when they took the lead, 20-17. It was down to the final points when Chinese-Taipei came back and equalized, 20-20—it could go any way at this point, but South Korea’s errors on their crucial last returns cost them the win by just two points, 22-20.

In the men’s singles, unranked Liao Jhuo-Fu overpowered No. 7 Jeon Hyeok Jin of South Korea. Lee’s game unraveled early on as Shin placed aggressive and deceptive returns that looked to Lee as if they were out of bounds, which cost Lee a few points when he failed to hit them. The first set was a quick 21-15 and the second set an even quicker 21-14 final.

The men’s doubles was another match to the finish as Wei Chun Wei and Wu Guan Xun escaped the clutches of South Korea’s Jin Yong and Na Sung Seung. Wei and Wu started off strong and won the first set, 21-11, but Jin and Na bounced back to tie it up, 15-21. 

The last set went back and forth as they tied it through most of the game, but Wei and Wu got the better of Jin Na in the end and won a close 21-18 match.

For the pair of Hsu and Lin, they said in an interview after their match that it was tough. “It was difficult because they had lots of experience. So, I just did my best to take the game… we were very nervous but we just did our best and won.” Both will play in the next qualifier this week.

As for Liao, through his interpreter friend Presley Smith, he said that he knew his opponent was really strong, so he prepared well for it. Through the game, he said his strategy was just to relax and was happy he came out on top.

Results of the women’s singles and mixed pairs finals will be posted in the next issues of Saipan Tribune.