Alan Chan, Kylie Luo excel in Mixed Doubles category of Division 1-Wisden Cup 2012
Mixed Doubles team Alan Chan-Kylie Luo continued their successful run in Division 1-Wisden Cup and thrashed Oliver Leydon Davis-Johanna Goliszewski on Saturday, August 11, 2012.
This hard fought battle was staged at local badminton arena of Hamilton in New Zealand and both teams made the crowd gasp with their breath-taking performance in three games. They played their heart out to pile up concluding figures of 20-22, 21-10 and 21-17.
The Auckland campaigners displayed great fighting skills and stole the limelight despite losing in the first set.
Meanwhile, Oliver-Johanna aroused the hopes of their supporters by winning opening match point but they could not live up to the billing in next two games.
In the first set, they played with great conviction and kept their rivals under control in most part of the game. They blundered in third quarter of the set but reinstated their supremacy when it mattered.
On the other hand, Alan and Kylie proved themselves lazy in the beginning as they could not match their challengers’ speed and dropped many valuable points.
Though, they accelerated their pace in final stage but it was too late to avoid a 20-22 defeat.
The second set brought life back into the match as this time it was Waikato shuttlers turn to blunder. The twosome of Oliver and Johanna put a below par performance and lost this crucial game with an eleven-point deficit.
They could not read their competitors’ game and remained at the lower end all the way to game point situation.
Alan and Kylie showed diversity in their craft as many times they pushed the opposing team on the back-foot with power packed smashes and then pocketed vital points with drop net shots.
They did not lose their commanding position at any stage and wrapped second set with an overwhelming figure of 21-10.
Lot of fireworks was expected in the decider as both teams were standing just one knock away from a splendid win.
They made this contest memorable by putting their best in the game. They remained close until third quarter of the set but then Alan and Kylie struck hard and locked the honour with 21-17 score.
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