Tantowi Ahmad/Lilyana Natsir capture the crown without playing on finals

First seeded mix doubles, Tantowi Ahmad/Lilyana Natsir will take on second seeded, Chen Hung Ling/Cheng Wen Hsing in Sunday's Kumpoo macau open, looking to win at the US$200,000 Macau Open 2011.

Tantowi Ahmad/Lilyana Natsir booked his place by downing Thailand’s Sudket Prapakamol-Saralee Thoungthongkam 21-17, 21-11 to set up against Chen Hung Ling-Cheng Wen Hsing, who who were surprise winners of the Yonex Open Japan Superseries last month, had booked their tickets to the final by beating Indonesians Muhammad Rijal-Debby Susanto 18-21, 21-14, 21-14.

Their unfortunate decision to withdraw means world No. 4s Tontowi-Liliyana will take home the mixed doubles crown. It is their fourth Open title and fifth overall of the year – they won the SEA Games gold medal last month.

The Indonesian pair, who joined forces last year, made waves earlier this year when they won three tournaments back-to-back to shoot up the world rankings.

They first made their mark at the India Open where they defeated teammates Fran Kurniawan-Pia Zebadiah Bern 21-18, 23-21, to claim their first OSIM BWF World Superseries title as partners.

They followed that the following week by winning the Malaysia Open Grand Prix Gold by beating Malaysians Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying 18-21, 21-15, 21-19, before winning the Singapore Open Superseries where their opponents were Hung Ling-Wen Hsing. They won 21-14, 27-25.

Tontowi-Liliyana missed out in the following tournament, losing the Indonesia Open Superseries final to world champions Zhang Nan-Zhao Yunlei of China 20-22, 21-14, 21-9.

That was their last final before the SEA Games last month. They appear to be coming back into form, which will certainly liven up the BWF World Superseries Finals, which will be held at Liu Zhou, China, from Dec 14-18, where the best eight pairs in the world will do battle for the prestigious title.

China Open Premier Super Series: Tantowi Ahmad/Lilyana Natsir penetrade into 2nd round in Mix Doubles.

Indonesian mix doubles Tantowi Ahmad/Lilyana Natsir has penetrated into next round after beat Hirokatsu Hashimoto/Mizuki Fujii of the 2011 Li Ning China Open Premier Super Series, on Wednesday, November 23, in Shanghai, China.

Tantowi Ahmad/Lilyana Natsir has been playing superb badminton after several day grabbed gold medal at 26th Sea Games in Palembang.

They play dominating in mixed double againt Japanese pair. The Japanese pair completely failed reach the momentum to back level at every game.

The Indonesian pair dictated the pace with a great smash from Tantowi Ahmad and maintained a wonderfull fast move the whole fight. Tantowi Ahmad/Lilyana Natsir finished the first round contest in to games by working at their best for 24 minutes.

The opening set Indonesian pair lead with 8 smash winner, 5 net winner and 8 unforce error made by Japanese pair. In the second set, Japanese pair change his strategy but again failed to dominated the game as Tantowi Ahmad force with his smashes and smart placing shot by Lilyana. The Indonesia pair took the second games as easily as the first set and won in straight set 21-12 21-11.

The Indonesian mix double opened their campaign against Hirokatsu/Mizuki Fujii in an aggressive and dominating way as he employed jumping smashes from the opening rallies in the first game. Tantowi Ahmad was quicker in finishing off the points by missing no chance to bury the bird into their rival’s court.

The Indonesia pair proved that they has achieved a higher level of skills as their played tremendous badminton against the Japanese pair and won the set with an impressive 21-12 score on the board.

In the following set, Hirokatsu Hashimoto/Mizuki Fujii  played well in the opening points but gradually failed to continue at the same speed. Tantowi Ahmad/Lilyana Natsir took over from Japanese pair and established a good lead until the break, 11-6. After the break, the Indonesian pair extended their lead by playing fast and positive badminton and won the battle with a 21-11 score.

In second round Tantowi Ahmad/Lilyana Natsir will face the winner betwenn Japanese pair Shintaro Ikeda/Rioka Shiota or Thomas Laybourn/Kamilla Rytter Juhl presented from Denmark.

Tontowi-Lilyana Natsir won Mixed Doubles Gold

TRIBUNNEWS.COM, JAKARTA - Ahmad-Lilyana Natsir Tontowi add gold treasury contingent Indonesia, after defeating the Thai pair, Sudket Prapakamol-Saralee Thoungthongkam in the SEA Games XXVI badminton final at Senayan, Jakarta, Saturday (11/19/2011).

Tontowi-Lilyana easily won two straight games, each with a score of 21-7 and 21-13.

In the middle of the first game, Indonesian mixed doubles partner is able to lead with the number 11-4. Attacks launched Tontowi-Lilyana Thai spouse can not be dammed.

After a short break, Tontowi-Lilyana go back to collect points. Do not want tersalip, smash after smash was thrown Indonesia's partner, so make oversized opponent. The first game was terminated Tontowi-Lilyana to score a landslide 21-7.

In the second game, although the first point was missed, but with easy-Lilyana Tontowi able to equalize the score and overtake his opponent.

Indonesia's mixed doubles number after the mid-shot acquisition of the second game. Without mercy, they showered the couple with Thailand's hard smash.

Tontowi-Lilyana finally able to donate gold to Indonesia after overthrowing his opponent in the second game by a score of 21-13.

Ity while the bronze medal for the mixed doubles pair was obtained Thailand, Songphon Anugritayawon-Kunchala Vorvichitchaikul and partner of Indonesia, Muhammad Rijal and Debby Susanto.

Photo VIVAnews

Source : here

Tantowi-Liliyana claimed the YONEX SUNRISE India Open

Indonesia’s Tantowi Ahmad-Liliyana Natsir claimed the YONEX SUNRISE India Open Superseries mixed doubles title on Sunday. The tournament has been upgraded to join the OSIM BWF World Superseries calendar. It will become the competision more stringent than  the previously when it was still a Grand Prix Gold event.

Back to the match, the raising pair Tantowi-Liliyana didn’t go the distance in the semi-finals against Muhammad Rijal-Debby Susanto after their compatriot retired. Mohammad Rijal got suffered a muscle spasm in his lower back during the second game after they dropped the opening game.

This meant that Tantowi-Liliyana have more chance to winning in finals against third seeded compatriots Fran Kurniawan-Pia Zebadiah Bern. And they converted the advanted to a victory.

Mixing up play greatfully, the lower ranked Indonesians pushed their team mates to all four corners of the court before taking the first game 21-18. Fran-Pia bauch back in the second game but lacked the killer touch at the crucial point.

Tantowi Liliyana took advantage to finish the second game 23-21 to claim their first ever OSIM BWF World Superseries crowd as a partnership. Tantowi Liliyana carved out a 21-18 23-21 victory over Frans-Pia in 44 minutes. They are also the first Indonesians to win a Superseries mixed doubles title since Liliyana and former partner Nova Widianto won the 2009 French Open.