Unseeded Chong Ming (front)-Thien How beat top seeds and World No 11 Albertus Susanto-Johan Hadi Kusuma of Hong Kong 21-14, 20-22, 21-11 to win their maiden doubles title in the New Zealand Open in Auckland yesterday .

CHAN Chong Ming and Hoon Thien How clinched their first international title, but Wong Choong Hann failed to deliver when he crashed to Indonesia’s back-up player Andre Kurniawan in the New Zealand Open in Auckland yesterday.

Choong Hann: Failed to deliver.

Unseeded Chong Ming-Thien How, playing in their first final as a pair, beat top seeds and World No 11 Albertus Susanto-Johan Hadi Kusuma of Hong Kong 21-14, 20-22, 21-11 in 57 minutes to win the doubles title.

However, Andre, ranked 70, upset Malaysian World No 35 Choong Hann 13-21, 21-18, 21-14 to clinch his first international grand prix title. Choong Hann’s was the third straight Malaysian scalp the Indonesian claimed. He beat Roslin Hasim in the quarter-finals and Yeoh Kay Bin in the semis.

Choong Hann was expected to have a rough ride and the up-and-coming Indonesian youngster did as expected. However, Chong Ming-Thien How made sure the Malaysian contingent did not return empty-handed, and despite losing the second game, they fought back to dominate their opponents.

Chong Ming-Thien How, a combination formed only in November, had competed in seven previous tournaments previously and reached the quarter-finals of the German, Swiss and Indonesia Opens. Yesterday’s was their biggest to date.
National doubles coach Rexy Mainaky said that the win is important, particularly for Chong Ming, although the New Zealand Open is not a prestigious event.

"It is a major tournament but this title is important for them and it will help build the confidence of Chong Ming who had been struggling a little," said Rexy in Kuala Lumpur.

"Our pairs have struggled against Korea but Chong Ming-Thien How beat their No 1 Lee Ae Jin-Jung Jae Sung in the Indonesia Open and I hope that they continue improving."

The win comes as consolation for Chong Ming-Thien How who lost their spot in the World Championships when the wild card in the men’s doubles was given to Fairuzizuan Tazari-Zakry Latif.

Chong Ming now has a unique record of winning six titles with three different partners since 2002. He won the Japan Open in 2002 with Chew Choon Eng, then won the Taiwan, Denmark, Swiss and Malaysia Opens with Koo Kien Keat before securing a sixth with Thien How yesterday.

For Thien How it was the 23-year-old first title. His previous best was a runners-up medal with Tan Boon Heong in last year’s Asian Championships.

Chong Ming-Thien How, ranked World No 31 before yesterday, will now move up to 24th but more importantly, the win is a massive confidence boost for the pair.

Results — (All finals) Men’s singles: Andre Kurniawan (Ina) bt Wong Choong Hann (Mas) 13-21, 21-18, 21-14.

Doubles: Chan Chong Ming-Hoon Thien How (Mas) bt Albertus Susanto-Johan Hadi Kusuma (HK) 21-14, 20-22, 21-11.

Women’s singles: Zhou Mi (HK) bt Chie Umezu (Jpn) 21-13, 21-10.

Doubles: Ikue Tatani-Aya Wakisaka (Jpn) bt Meiliana Jauhari-Shendy Puspa Irawati (Ina) 21-17, 16-21, 21-15.

Mixed doubles: Devin Lahardi-Lita Nurlita (Ina) bt Anggun Nugroho-Nitya Krishinda Maheswari (Ina) 21-16, 21-15.

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