LIBC 2019 FINALS: Upset As Tien Minh Nguyen Edge Zilberman To Men Singles Title

The crowd at the Molade Okoya Indoor Sports Hall could not contain their excitement as Vietnamese debutant, Tien Minh Nguyen created the upset of the championship with his mastery performance against defending men’s singles champion, Misha Zilberman.

30 – year old Zilberman who was the number one seed at this year’s Lagos International Badminton Classics was the fans favourite ahead of the showdown but his opposition once again – just like so far through the classics showed his superiority.

Tien Minh Nguyen took the initiative with the first set at 21-18 to set a frenetic second set.

The near filled to capacity Molade Okoya Indoor Hall were literally at the edge of their seats as momentum swung either ways in the second set with deuces.

The 36 –year old showed his experience and a higher fitness level as he survived consecutive intensive plays from Zilberman to seal his place amongst the elite position as one of the champions of the 2019 Lagos International Badminton Classics.

The women’s singles final was between two familiar foes and two oppositions from Turkey – Neslihan Yigit who is the number women’s seed facing off against seventh seed, Ozge Bayrak.

In a thrilling three set encounter between both countrywomen, Yigit who is placed 43rd in the current BWF rankings emerged victories 21-16, 24-26, 21-13.

The duo of Pooja Dandu/Sanjana Santosh from India got the ready crowd screaming on top of their voices with some lightening moves in their three set women’s doubles win over Bengisu Ercetin/ Nazlican Inci from Turkey.

OTHER RESULTS

Men’s Doubles:

Jones Ralfy Jansen/ Peter Kaesbauer 21-11, 21-8 M. R. Arjun/ Ramchandran Shlok

Mixed Doubles:

M.R. Arjun/ Maneesha .K 21-16, 21-17 Ramchandran Shlok/ Rutaparna Panda