HYDERABAD: World number seven and second seed Taufiq Hidayat packed too many guns for 10th seed Muhammad Hafiz Hashim in the men’s singles final at the $120,000 Yonex-Sunrise India Open Gold Grand Prix Championship that concluded at SAAP Indoor Stadium, Gachibowli, here on Sunday. The Indonesian took 30 minutes to lift the title with a score of 21-18, 21-19.
The women’s crown went to top seed and world No.4 Pi Hongyan of France, who outsmarted fifth seed Juli Pei Xian Wong of Malaysia 17-21, 21-15, 21-14 in 54 minutes.
However, there was big disappointment for India as second-seeded pair of V Diju and Jwala Gutta went down to Flandy Limple and Vita Marissa of Indonesia 14-21, 17-21 in the mixed doubles final.
Hidayat was greeted by a huge roar.
But Hidayat could not get into rhythm because of the drift factor. He was tentative and did not play his usual attacking game. “It was not easy to play. I was scared with the wind drift,” said Hidayat, who won his first big title after his victory in the 2008 Macau Open.The Indonesian adopted a safe game preferring to play at the net and deploy flat strokes. Hashim, who played delectable drop shots, was good in patches. He had Hidayat on the wrong foot with his well placed down-the-line smashes. But Hidayat read the game and got better as the match progressed. He took the first game 21-18 wi th his backhand smashes and drop shots.
Hashim fought gamely in the second and ran Hidayat close. But the Indonesian was always in control and emerged winner. “It was good to win a title here,” said Hidayat.
The women’s title clash was more absorbing. Fifth seed Wong, conqueror of Saina Nehwal, surprised Hongyan with her aggressive play. Hongyan found it difficult to control the shuttle because of the drift, losing the first game.
The top seed changed her strategy in the second. She began to play near the net and unleashed few slices from the backcourt. It yielded results as she won the second game.
After making those tactical changes, Hongyan became more confident.
She dictated as Wong made unforced errors. Once she took command there was no stopping Hongyan as she raced to victory. This was Hongyan’s first title after 2006, when she won the Singapore Super Series. “It was good to win the title here,’’ said Hongyan.
The mixed doubles final was a big letdown as the Indonesian pair outplayed Jwala and Diju. “We were outplayed in the first game. In the second we had a chance to extend the match to decider when leading 17-13. However, they played exceptionally well to seal victory,” said the Indian pair.