IN CHAMPIONSHIP COMPANY: Ratchanok Intanon (Thailand) and Kento Momota (Japan) were worthy Women’s Singles and Men’s Singles champions respectively as the BCA Indonesia Open 2015 wrapped up in Jakarta today.
Intanon coolly defeated Momota’s compatriot, Yui Hashimoto, in straight games, 21-11 21-10, to upgrade her runner-up spot in 2014 for the top of the podium this season. The stage was then set for a pulsating finale to the Men’s Singles competition in which Momota came from a game down to dethrone last year’s champion, Jan Jorgensen of Denmark: 16-21 21-19 21-7.
Both previously World Junior champions, the two 20-year-olds have graduated to badminton’s elite level with some stunning successes already in their still-blossoming careers. Intanon won the BWF World Championship two years ago while Momota was instrumental in Japan’s Thomas Cup triumph last year.