Indonesia Masters: Chinese shuttlers defend mixed doubles title

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(190127) -- JAKARTA, Jan. 27, 2019 (Xinhua) -- Gold medalists Huang Yaqiong (L) and Zheng Siwei of China pose for photos during the awarding ceremony after the mixed doubles final match between Zheng Siwei/Huang Yaqiong of China and Tontowi Ahmad/Liliyana Natsir of Indonesia at the Indonesia Masters 2019 in Jakarta, Indonesia, Jan 26, 2019. Zheng Siwei/Huang Yaqiong won 2-1. (Xinhua/Agung Kuncahya B.)

Jakarta,  Defending champions Chinese top mixed doubles pair of Zheng Siwei and Huang Yaqiong won the summit clash of the 2019 Indonesia Masters badminton championship here on Sunday.

The No. 1 mixed doubles pair defeated Indonesia’s Tontowi Ahmad and Lilyana Natsir 19-21, 21-19 and 21-16 in 56 minutes, reports Xinhua news agency.

“Today’s match was very tough as our Indonesian opponents are very determined to win so as to get an honourable result for the end of their partnership. So, we played carefully and saved the best for the last game,” Zheng told a press conference.

With Huang at his side at the press conference, Zheng said that he and Huang had made extra efforts to avoid mistakes throughout the match, particularly in the third game.

“It was because the score was running neck-and-neck. We had to avoid mistakes that could benefit Tontowi and Lilyana,” he added.