Back on Top – Doubles Finals: HSBC BWF World Tour Finals
Misaki Matsutomo and Ayaka Takahashi (featured image) spared Japan’s blushes today as the curtains came down on the inaugural HSBC BWF World Tour Finals, wresting the Women’s Doubles crown for the country that has…
· GAYLE ALLEYNE
Misaki Matsutomo and Ayaka Takahashi (featured image) spared Japan’s blushes today as the curtains came down on the inaugural HSBC BWF World Tour Finals, wresting the Women’s Doubles crown for the country that has dominated that category this season.
On a day when their nation featured in four finals, it was left to the resurgent Olympic gold medallists to keep their flag flying as their teammates finished runners-up in the other three matches. The pair duly delivered gold, resisting all that Lee So Hee and Shin Seung Chan threw their way: 21-12 22-20 in 49 minutes.
Having dominated the opening salvos to seize the advantage at the change of sides, the Japanese again took command early in the second game. Sitting pretty on 20-16 – with four championship points in their favour – they suddenly found themselves under pressure as their Korean opponents clawed back courageously to 20-20. On the next point, the shuttle was called out on the Koreans’ baseline which would have given them game point to try and force a decider. However, a timely challenge from the top seeds showed the shuttle to be kissing the baseline, thus gifting Matsutomo and Takahashi a fifth