Doubles success soothes Justin’s singles pain in Finland

All-Malaysian party: (from left) Fazriq, Vin Sean, Zheng Yi and Justin secured a 1-2 finish in the boys’ doubles event at the Finnish Junior.

PETALING JAYA: Shuttler Justin Hoh is not too disheartened despite missing out on a second singles title.

On Sunday, the 17-year-old lost 14-21,16-21 in the boys’ semi-finals to eventual champion Yohannes Marcellyno of Indonesia in the Finnish Junior in Espoo but made up for the disappointment by clinching the doubles title with Ong Zhen Yi.

Justin-Zhen Yi got their newly-formed partnership off to a good start by triumphing 23-21, 17-21, 21-18 against another new Malaysian junior combination Fazriq Razif-Wong Vin Sean.

“My main goal was to win the singles title, but bagging the doubles victory is a great result too,” said Justin, who won the Badminton Asia Under-17 Championships for his sole individual title.

“It still means a lot because we had to battle hard for it. In fact, the doubles final was our third match of the day (on Sunday) and eighth overall in the span of three days (tournament started on Friday).

“Coach (Datuk) Misbun (Sidek) has made it compulsory for us to play in two events. I feel it’s quite beneficial.

“It adds variation to my play because I can apply the doubles ability to the singles and vice versa,” he explained.

Justin, who previously formed a title-winning partnership with Fazriq, added that he would now team up with Zhen Yi in future tournaments, including the upcoming eighth-tier senior tournament Hungarian International starting tomorrow in Budaors.

“Although my focus is on the singles, I’ll still play my heart out in the doubles and go for the title regardless of who I team up with.”

On his third senior tournament in Hungary, he said: “It takes five wins, three in singles and two in doubles, just to reach the main draw. But I’m all ready for the next ‘marathon’ in Hungary.”

Justin competed in the Austrian Open in May and reached the last 16.

RESULTS

FINALS

Men’s singles: Yohanes Marcellyno (Ina) bt Alwi Farhan (Ina) 21-14, 21-14. Men’s doubles: Justin Hoh-Ong Zhen Yi (Mas) bt Fazriq Razif-Wong Vin Sean (Mas) 23-21, 17-21, 21-18.

Women’s singles: Ester Wardoyo (Ina) bt Siti Azzahra (Ina) 21-14, 21-12. Women’s doubles: Meilysa Sari-Rachel Rose (Ina) bt Caitlyn Kruus-Ramona Uprus (Est) 21-11, 21-15.

Mixed doubles: Wong Vin Sean-Tan Zhing Yi (Mas) bt Apiluk Gaterahong-Sirada Roongpiboonsopit (Tha) 21-18, 21-11.

SEMI-FINALS

Men’s singles: Alwi Farhan (Ina) bt Ong Zhen Yi (Mas) 21-11, 17-21, 21-17; Yohannes Marcellyno (Ina) bt Justin Hoh (Mas) 21-14, 21-16.

Men’s doubles: Fazriq Razif-Wong Vin Sean (Mas) bt Rayhan Nur Fadilah-Rahmat Hidayat (Ina) 21-19, 12-21, 23-21; Justin Hoh-Ong Zhen Yi (Mas) bt Ananda Daniswara-Robin Jantti (Fin) 25-23, 21-13.

Women’s singles: Siti Azzahra (Ina) bt Caitlyn Kruus (Est) 21-6, 21-13; Ester Wardoyo (Ina) bt Bilqis Prasista (Ina) 21-10, 15-21, 21-18.

Women’s doubles: Caitlyn Kruus-Ramona Uprus (Est) bt Savira Husnia-Kelly Larissa (Ina) 23-21, 21-17; Meilysa Sari-Rachel Rose (Ina) bt Lucie Krulova-Petra Maixnerova (Cze) 21-12, 21-16.

Mixed doubles: Apiluk Gaterahong-Sirada Roongpiboonsopit (Tha) bt Oskar Mannik-Ramona Uprus (Est) 21-15, 23-21; Wong Vin Sean-Tan Zhing Yi (Mas) bt Ananda Daniswara-Oona Tapola (Ina-Fin) 21-10, 15-21, 21-18.