Versatile pair: Seo Seung-jae (right) and Kim Won-ho of South Korea in action against Indonesia’s Leo Rolly-Bagas Maulana at the All-England final. — AP
PETALING JAYA: Now, everyone wants to be like South Korean doubles hotshot Seo Seung-jae.
The 27-year-old Seung-jae and partner Kim Won-ho ended South Korea’s 13-year wait for an All-England title after beating Indonesia’s Leo Rolly-Bagas Maulana 21-19, 21-19 in Birmingham on Sunday.
Seung-jae’s crafty play, superb skills and aggression together with Won-ho’s determination were enough to bury their opponents.
The last Korean men doubles to win were Jung Jae-sung-Lee Yong-dae at the 2012 edition.
It was Seung-jae’s first All-England title after several attempts but one of the many top accodales that he had won in his career, which includes the world titles with Kang Min-hyuk (men’s doubles), Chae Yoo-jung (mixed doubles) at the edition in Copenhagen in 2023.
He has won 14 men’s doubles titles with different partners since 2018 and six mixed doubles. This year alone, he has also won three other titles in four finals, including the Malaysian Open.
Known as Mr Flexible, he has proven that he can play with any partner and still deliver quality performance. And his stamina and consistency is out of this world, which is an envy of all the other players.
Won-ho, 25, gave tribute to his more illustrious partner.
“I’m so pleased ... I can’t believe we have won the title. I’d like to thank Seo for providing great leadership in our partnership,” he said as posted on the tournament’s website.
He also paid tribute to Yong-dae, who had been coaching the pair this week, and Jae-sung, who passed away five years ago.
“I’d like to thank our head coach, coaches and trainers, because with their support we were able to produce a good result here,” said Won-ho.
“I’d like to say a special thanks to coach Jung who passed away. I miss him dearly and I’m grateful for his support in the past.”
Won-ho is also chasing a unique record in the All-England.
“I only recently got to know that my mother has three All-England titles. I’m happy that I’ve won, but I’m still some way behind her,” added Won-ho, who is the son of the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games gold medallist Gil Young-ah.
It was also a great day for South Korea in the women’s singles as reigning Olympic champion An Se-young lifted her second All-England title after beating Wang Zhiyi of China 13-21, 21-18, 21-9 in 95 minutes.
It was a special day too for old-timer Shi Yuqi of China, who last won in the oldest tournament in 2018, as he beat surprise finalist Lee Chia-hao of Taiwan 21-17, 21-19 to win his second title.
ALL FINALS
Men’s singles: Shi Yuqi (Chn) bt Lee Chia-hao (Tpe) 21-17, 21-19.
Men’s doubles: Kim Won-ho-Seo Seung-jae (Kor) bt Leo Rolly-Bagas Maulana (Ina) 21-19, 21-19.
Women’s singles: An Se-young (Kor) bt Wang Zhiyi (Chn) 13-21, 21-18, 21-18.
Women’s doubles: Nami Matsuyama-Chiharu Shida (Jpn) bt Yuki Fukushima-Mayu Matsumoto (Jpn) 21-16, 14-21, 21-17.
Mixed doubles: Guo Xinwai-Chen Fanghui (Chn) bt Feng Yanzhe-Wei Yaxin (Chn) 21-16, 10-21, 23-21.
