Even in second-tier tournaments, Indonesia cannot catch a break.
After its shuttlers finished without a title at the world championship, the country’s worst showing since 2006, Indonesia also came up empty at the Macau Grand Prix Gold on Sunday.
Mixed doubles pair Hendra Aprida Gunawan and Vita Marissa were the only one of Indonesia’s three semifinalists to reach the final, where they fell 21-14, 21-9 to top-seeded He Hanbin and Yu Yang of China.
Reaching the final was still a good showing for the unseeded duo. Hendra and Vita, both former national team shuttlers who withdrew from the national camp in May, only started playing together in June. They reached the final by outlasting fifth-seeded Chen Zhiben and Zhang Jinkang of China 24-22, 17-21, 21-13 on Saturday.
Taufik Hidayat, the third seed in men’s singles, and men’s doubles pair Wifqi Windarto and Afiat Yuris Wirawan saw their tournament runs end in Saturday’s semifinals.
Taufik, the defending Macau champion, lost 21-18, 22-20 to world No. 1 Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia. Lee went on to win the men’s singles title with a 21-15, 21-19 victory against countryman Wong Choong Hann.
Unseeded Wifqi and Afiat lost 21-13, 21-15 to second-seeded Malaysian Choong Tan Fook and Lee Wan Wah. Choong and Lee eventually fell in the final, losing 21-14, 17-21, 21-12 to countrymen Koo Kien Keat and Tan Boon Heong.
China dominated the other divisions, taking top spot in women’s singles and doubles. Third-seeded Wang Yihan won the singles crown with a 16-21, 22-20, 21-12 victory against Jiang Yanjiao, the sixth seed.
Women’s doubles top seeds Du Jing and Yu Yang emerged victorious from the other all-Chinese final, beating third-seeded compatriots Yang Wei and Zhang Jiewen 21-16, 21-11.
Play now shifts to the Taiwan Grand Prix Gold tournament, which begins on Tuesday.