Nozomi Shimizu and Andika Ramadiansyah stand as the last remaining Oceania contenders at the Bendigo International, advancing to the mixed doubles final after a 33-minute straight-games victory over Lin Ting-Yu and Tsai Ruo Lin on Saturday.
Shimizu and Ramadiansyah Book Mixed Doubles Final Spot
Top-seeded Australians Nozomi Shimizu and Andika Ramadiansyah secured their spot in the championship match with a 21-15, 21-19 win in Bendigo, Victoria. Coming off a tournament victory the previous week at the MAXX North Harbour International, the pair controlled the pace against Lin Ting-Yu and Tsai Ruo Lin. Playing together for nearly two years, the duo pointed to improving court awareness and non-verbal cues as key factors in their sustained run.
Last week we became champions, and this week we can go to the final again,
Shimizu and Ramadiansyah told Badminton Australia. Hopefully we will be champions again.
Refining their partnership over multiple seasons has yielded results on the court. Our communication is getting better,
they noted. It will be better and better after this. Even though we don’t talk, we can communicate.
Chinese Taipei Pairs Dominate Semifinal Fixtures
While the mixed doubles top seeds advanced, the rest of the tournament draw turned into a showcase for competitors from Chinese Taipei. Lin Bing-Wei and Lin Yen Yu booked their place in the mixed doubles final by erasing a one-game deficit to defeat Huang Tsung-I and Wang Yi Zhen 15-21, 21-17, 21-14 in a 51-minute contest. That victory followed an earlier quarterfinal elimination of Australia’s Michael Owen and Gronya Somerville.
Owen and Jack Yu also exited the men’s doubles draw after falling to second seeds Huang Tsung-I and Lin Ting-Yu in a 24-minute match ending 21-8, 21-9. In the other half of the men’s doubles bracket, Australia’s Keith Mark Edison and Malaysia’s Samuel Lee withdrew from their semifinal fixture, sending Shao Hua Chiu and Lin Bing-Wei through via walkover.
Singles Draws Set Stage for Championship Sunday
India’s Ansh Negi delivered the longest semifinal of the day in the men’s singles, overcoming a first-game loss to defeat Ting Yen-Chen 12-21, 21-17, 21-19 after an hour and 12 minutes on court. Negi, who previously eliminated top seed Wang Po-Wei in the quarterfinals, will face second seed Liao Jhuo-Fu. Liao advanced past Chiang Tzu Chieh with a 21-17, 21-14 victory.
In the women’s singles bracket, top seed Tung Ciou-Tong advanced when Indonesia’s Kyla Legiana Agatha retired from the match with Tung leading 21-8, 5-5. Tung will meet fourth seed Liao Jui-Chi, who dropped the opening game before defeating Shu-Yu Wen 21-11, 11-21, 21-14.
Heavy Schedules Shape Final Day Lineups
To reach the women’s doubles final, Chia En Chung and You Zhu Wang overcame second seeds Hsieh Mi Yen and Yu Chien Hui with a scoreline of 21-18, 17-21, 21-17 over a duration of 49 minutes. Standing across the net from them will be Liao Jui-Chi and Lin Yen Yu, who advanced past Yi Tsen Hsieh and Jui-Yi Hsu 21-16, 21-14.
The progression sets up demanding championship schedules for several competitors. Liao Jui-Chi is slated for both the women’s singles and women’s doubles finals, Lin Yen Yu features in both the women’s doubles and mixed doubles title matches, and Lin Bing-Wei contests both the men’s doubles and mixed doubles finals.
Bendigo International Championship Fixtures
All finals are scheduled to commence at 10:00 AM local time at the Bendigo venue:
- Mixed Doubles: Nozomi Shimizu and Andika Ramadiansyah (AUS) vs. Lin Bing-Wei and Lin Yen Yu
- Men’s Doubles: Huang Tsung-I and Lin Ting-Yu vs. Shao Hua Chiu and Lin Bing-Wei
- Women’s Doubles: Chia En Chung and You Zhu Wang vs. Liao Jui-Chi and Lin Yen Yu
- Women’s Singles: Tung Ciou-Tong vs. Liao Jui-Chi
- Men’s Singles: Ansh Negi (IND) vs. Liao Jhuo-Fu
Following their semifinal victory, Shimizu and Ramadiansyah indicated they would review video footage of their upcoming opponents on Saturday night to finalize their tactical approach before Sunday morning’s opening matches.
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