鈥楳inions鈥 strike gold to rock Jakarta arena
Print Edition
Indonesia鈥檚 Jonatan Christie stunned Chinese Taipei鈥檚 Chou Tien-chen for Asian Games badminton gold as a home pair affectionately dubbed the 鈥淢inions鈥 won the men鈥檚 doubles at a rocking Jakarta arena yesterday.
Christie said he鈥檇 never dreamed of being crowned Asian Games champion on home soil after his thrilling 21-18, 20-22, 21-15 against the world number six 鈥 his first title of the year.
Later, Chinese Taipei鈥檚 world No. 1 beat PV Sindhu 21-13, 21-16 in 34 minutes 鈥 the fifth final defeat in a row for the much-endorsed Indian, who is listed as the world鈥檚 seventh richest female athlete. The delighted Christie ripped off his shirt as fans roared after his win over Chou, which made him Indonesia鈥檚 first men鈥檚 singles gold medalist since former Olympic champion Taufik Hidayat in 2006.
The world number 15 overcame nerves to edge the first game but after faltering in the second, he regained his composure in the decisive final game.
It capped a memorable run for Indonesia鈥檚 men after Anthony Sinisuka Ginting knocked out world champion Kento Momota and Olympic gold-medallist Chen Long en route to bronze.
鈥淚 did not expect that I can win a gold at the Asian Games. Actually there are a lot of good players here and I never expected that I could come out as a winner,鈥 said Christie.
鈥淏ut now I have to look ahead. It doesn鈥檛 stop here. A day鈥檚 rest and I will start preparing for the next tournament.鈥
The shuttler began his campaign with a shock win over China鈥檚 world number two Shi Yuqi in the opening round 鈥 and he felt the omens were good for the final.
鈥淔rom the first time I shook hands with Chou at the toss, his hands were cold and I felt he was nervous. But he played a good game,鈥 said Christie.
Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo and Marcus Fernaldi Gideon, nicknamed the 鈥淢inions鈥 owing to their stature, won an all-Indonesian final against Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Rian Ardianto 13-21, 21-18, 24-22.
In a celebratory atmosphere at the badminton stadium, Sukamuljo and Gideon collapsed to the floor as their opponents鈥 final shot went wide to settle a gripping final game.
The women鈥檚 final was far more one-sided as Tai, who beat India鈥檚 Saina Nehwal in the semifinals, improved her record against Sindhu to 10-3.
鈥淪he did not play as good as before,鈥 Tai said after the contest. 鈥淚t is very good, what I have done. But I鈥檒l keep going and train better.鈥
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