‘Wata’ Win! – Doubles Finals: YONEX All England Open 2018
Young and exuberant Yuta Watanabe and Arisa Higashino sensationally upset the form book today, giving Japan its first Mixed Doubles triumph in the 108-year-old history of the prestigious All England Open.
· GAYLE ALLEYNE
When fearless dynamo Watanabe soared high for another rocket smash to seal the famous result, their coaches – Park Joo Bong and Jeremy Gan – as well as scores of fans broke out in jubilant celebration as last year’s surprise semi-finalists went two steps better this time around – ascending to the
coveted throne in grand style: 15-21 22-20 21-16.
The champions of the YONEX All England Open Badminton Championships 2018 (featured image) – aged 20 and 21 respectively – earned their glory the hard way, fighting back from a game down to beat China’s latest star act, Zheng Siwei and Huang Yaqiong; the latter bidding to repeat the feat she achieved with Lu Kai last season. Huang’s ambition seemed on track with she and Zheng took the opening game but they were in for a rude awakening at the change of ends as the Japanese combined spectacularly, mixing power, pace, precision and deft placement, to lead 11-5 and stay in front until their rivals fought back to 17-17. Undaunted, Watanabe and Higashino shook off that stutter to ensure a decider in which they again roared ahead and never allowed their rivals a whiff of overtaking them.