{"id":411555,"date":"2024-07-08T14:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-07-08T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/?p=411555"},"modified":"-0001-11-30T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"-0001-11-29T14:00:00","slug":"Cheng-Sugiyama-finish-strong-in-singles-finals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/Cheng-Sugiyama-finish-strong-in-singles-finals\/","title":{"rendered":"Cheng, Sugiyama finish strong in singles finals"},"content":{"rendered":"

The finals of the Badminton World Federation Grade 3 International Challenge tournament\u2014the Crowne Plaza Northern Marianas Open 2024\u2014was decked out with the flag of the Land of the Rising Sun as all but one match featured Japanese badminton players yesterday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.<\/p>\n

The only non-Japanese players were in the men\u2019s finals which saw a dramatic upset between the tourney\u2019s No. 5 seed Justin Hoh and unseeded Kai Cheng of Chinese Taipei.<\/p>\n

Cheng controlled the first set, 21-12, then in the second set, rallied later after falling behind early to seal the upset and his win, 22-20.<\/p>\n

But as a top player, Hoh found his stride and momentum in the crucial second set after he was discarded quickly in the first. However, a close call at the in\/out boundary proved to inevitably be Hoh\u2019s downfall. It was a tied 20-20 game when Hoh allowed the birdie to drop instead of opting to return it, and was called inside to give the advantage to Cheng.<\/p>\n

After a few seconds of discussion, the inside call stood which made it 21-20, in favor of Cheng. In Hoh\u2019s last chance, Cheng drew the serve\u2014and after a few exchanges, Hoh coughed up an error at the net in his return to secure the 22-20 win for Cheng.<\/p>\n

Hoh actually had the game in control at the beginning of the second set as he pushed for a tie-breaking third set, but Cheng\u2019s attacks and placements allowed him to catch up from a 7-15 deficit.<\/p>\n

From there, Hoh was rooted to the ground as Cheng fought for every point until he caught up, 16-16, and finally had his first lead of the game, 17-16. Hoh stagnated at 16 points, until Cheng led, 19-16. Hoh was then fired up until the game deadlocked at 19-19, then 20-20.<\/p>\n

For 19-year-old Cheng after his match, he said that he was very happy with his win. He said that the match was hard because Hoh was a very good player, but he felt that his attacks were stronger and better\u2014which landed him the win.<\/p>\n

Earlier, the women\u2019s singles finals featured a matchup between Japanese players No. 3 seed Kaoru Sugiyama and Sakura Masuki.<\/p>\n

Sugiyama had the upper hand and remained superior as she controlled both sets to win the title, 21-17, 21-15.<\/p>\n

Masuki actually kept pace with Sugiyama in the first set until Sugiyama pulled away once it reached 18-17. Sugiyama then left Masuki choking on her dust after landing four straight final points to own the first set.<\/p>\n

The second set then saw Masuki struggle to keep up as Sugiyama led early, 4-1. But then, a resurgence of energy for Masuki tied the game up, 4-4, and she immediately took the lead, 5-4.<\/p>\n

It was a tug-of-war with the lead from there until Sugiyama found her stride again and locked in to regain another big advantage, 18-13. Masuki could only land two more points which dashed her hopes for a third set as Sugiyama landed her final three points for the title.<\/p>\n

For 21-year-old Sugiyama, this win added another title in her international tournament run. She previously won the women’s singles finals of the 2023 Peru Challenge.<\/p>\n

She said of this finals, \u201cI was very nervous because it was a match against another Japanese player, but I think it was good because I was able to give it my all.\u201d<\/p>\n

As to how she felt about winning it over her teammate, she said, \u201cI\u2019ve played against her many times in Japan and I really wanted to win, so I\u2019m glad I was able to win this tournament.\u201d<\/p>\n

With most finalists in this tourney being Japanese players, she said, \u201cThere are already more advanced competitions going on at the same time, so I think it was good that the Japanese team was able to take the top spot at this IC [International Challenge].\u201d<\/p>\n

Results of the mixed doubles, women\u2019s doubles, and men\u2019s doubles will be posted in the next issues of Saipan Tribune.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Unseeded Kai Cheng of Chinese Taipei gets some air time as he gets ready to fire a smash during the second set of the men’s singles finals in the Badminton World Federation Grade 3 International Challenge tournament\u2014the Crowne Plaza Northern Marianas Open 2024\u2014 yesterday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.<\/p>\n

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<\/p>\n

Women\u2019s singles No. 3 seed Kaoru Sugiyama of Japan sets up for a smash during the first set of the women\u2019s finals in the Badminton World Federation Grade 3 International Challenge tournament\u2014the Crowne Plaza Northern Marianas Open 2024\u2014yesterday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.<\/p>\n

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<\/p>\n

Men\u2019s No. 5 seed Justin Hoh leaps for a smash during his first set finals matchup in the Badminton World Federation Grade 3 International Challenge tournament\u2014the Crowne Plaza Northern Marianas Open 2024\u2014yesterday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.<\/p>\n

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<\/p>\n

Unseeded Sakura Masuki of Japan looks up for a return during the second set of the women\u2019s singles finals in the Badminton World Federation Grade 3 International Challenge tournament\u2014the Crowne Plaza Northern Marianas Open 2024\u2014yesterday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.<\/p>\n

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<\/p>\n

Women\u2019s singles No. 3 seed Kaoru Sugiyama of Japan fully extends for a return during the first set of the women\u2019s finals in the Badminton World Federation Grade 3 International Challenge tournament\u2014the Crowne Plaza Northern Marianas Open 2024\u2014yesterday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.<\/p>\n

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<\/p>\n

Unseeded Kai Cheng of Chinese Taipei eyes the birdie during the first set of his finals matchup in the Badminton World Federation Grade 3 International Challenge tournament\u2014the Crowne Plaza Northern Marianas Open 2024\u2014yesterday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.<\/p>\n

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<\/figcaption><\/figure>

<\/p>\n

Men\u2019s No. 5 seed Justin Hoh makes contact for a return during the first set of his finals matchup in the Badminton World Federation Grade 3 International Challenge tournament\u2014the Crowne Plaza Northern Marianas Open 2024\u2014yesterday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.<\/p>\n

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<\/figcaption><\/figure>

<\/p>\n

Unseeded Sakura Masuki of Japan reaches for a return during the first set of the women\u2019s singles finals in the Badminton World Federation Grade 3 International Challenge tournament\u2014the Crowne Plaza Northern Marianas Open 2024\u2014yesterday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.<\/p>\n

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<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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