TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Roland Alexander/Annisa Saufika from Indonesia emerged as the champion of the mixed doubles event at the New Zealand Badminton Open 2017 after beating Sawan Serasing/Setyana Mapasa from Australia.

This is the first champion title for the Indonesian pair who was not not considered favorite to win a title in the championship, according to the All Indonesia Badminton Association (PBSI) on Sunday.

However they could prove their superiority over their Australian opponents by beating them 21-19, 21-14 in the final round.

"We are grateful we can win the title while we were just being paired," Ronald said.

Regarding their strategy he said that they had kept attacking since the start of the game.

"Although we once lost our focus in the midst of the first game we finally were able to turn the situation to our favor and win it. In the second game we could concentrate better and remain focused to control the play until the end of the game," he said.

Annisa said the key to their victory was always being alert as our opponents are all left-handed. Communication had also been smooth providing added strength, she said.

"We could anticipate the direction of returning shuttkecock from them as the type of their play was similar to ours which is attacking. In short we kept returning the shuttkecock downward," she said.

Indonesia only won one title from the players it had fielded in the tournament as the advance of four of its representatives was stopped at the semifinal round.

Greysia Polii/Apriani Rahayu failed to advance to the final round of the womens doubles while Hanna Ramadini and Fitriani in the womens singkes and Kenas Adi Haryanto/Moh Reza Pahlevi Isfahani in the mens double event.

ANTARA