Japan’s Kokona Ishikawa and Mio Konegawa reach for the return against Korea’s Hya Jeong Kim and Yu Jung Kim in the women’s doubles finals match of the Dove Saipan International 2024 at the Ada gym on Saturday.
Korea’s Hya Jeong Kim connects the back-hand return as teammate Yu Jung Kim looks on during the women’s doubles finals match of the Dove Saipan International 2024 at the Ada gym on Saturday.
JAPAN showcased yet another dominant performance in the 2024 Dove Saipan International Tournament with three of its teams claiming the women’s doubles, men’s doubles and mixed doubles titles at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium on Saturday.
The women’s doubles final match went the distance with Japan’s Kokona Ishikawa and Mio Konegawa triumphing over Korea’s Hya Jeong Kim and Yu Jung Kim in a three-set battle, 21-19, 11-21, 21-18.
In the first set, Ishikawa and Konegawa controlled the early possessions as their defense was nearly impenetrable, forcing the Kims to commit errors.
Down 3-7, the Koreans adjusted their game accordingly and notched four consecutive points to snatch the lead, 13-11.
The lead continued to change hands throughout the remainder of the set. However, in the end, it was Japan that edged Korea to secure the first win, 21-19.
In the second set, the Korean duo sought out redemption and succeeded. After a 7-7 deadlock, the Kims found their confidence and took over the spotlight with quick and powerful returns near the net to score a series of points and hold a comfortable distance, 16-9.
The only time the Japanese were able to score a point was off an error, but the Koreans quickly notched four points to bag the second set, 21-11.
The back-and-forth action continued throughout the third and final set. Japan led as much as six points, but Korea quickly equalized as the battle for control intensified.
Unfortunately for the Korea duo, their quick returns resulted in errors that allowed Japan to run away with the victory, 21-18, and claim the women’s doubles title.
Ishikawa and Konegawa said they were very happy with the results as it was their first time winning an international tournament.
In the Crowne Plaza Northern Marianas Open 2024, which was held before the Dove tournament, the duo lost to the Kims in the first round. They said they decided to watch videos of the game to make adjustments and prepare for their next match against the Kims — and so it came to pass.
Winners, too
In the men’s doubles, Japan’s Takumi Nomura and Yuichi Shimogami bested compatriots Tori Aizawa and Daisuke Sano in two sets, 21-19, 23-21, to win the title.
In the mixed doubles event, which was another all-Japan final, Hiroki Nishi and Akari Sato defeated Yuichi Shimogami and Sayaka Hobara, 21-11, 21-10, to claim the title.
