A badminton dynasty is reborn! Kim Won Ho and Seo Seung Jae have achieved a feat that has echoed through the annals of the sport, matching a record that stood for over three decades.
At the Kumamoto Prefectural Gymnasium, the dynamic duo battled Hiroki Midorikawa and Kyohei Yamashita in a match that would etch their names in history. The intensity was palpable from the start.
The Japanese pair came out swinging, snatching the first game with a close 22-20 victory. Their aggressive play pushed Kim and Seo onto the defensive. Seo admitted, “We were pushed back in the first game because the opponents were persistent and kept attacking a lot.”
But champions don’t falter; they adapt.
Kim and Seo responded with a surge of speed and aggression in the second game, dominating with a 21-11 win. The final game was a nail-biter, a true test of mental fortitude. Kim revealed his strategy: “I kept my eye on the shuttle the whole time and tried to relax so I wouldn’t put too much strength into my body.”
Their focus paid off. Point by point, they clawed their way to a 21-16 finish, securing their 10th title of the season.
But here’s where it gets truly remarkable: This victory equaled the legendary Li Yongbo and Tian Bingyi’s 1988 record for men’s doubles titles in a calendar year. Kim and Seo are the first men’s pair this century to reach double digits in a single season. And this is the part most people miss: They achieved this incredible feat in their first full season back together after splitting in 2019!
Kim himself was stunned by their success. “I wasn’t expecting to achieve this winning streak so I feel quite honoured. I will continue to work on my shortcomings and strive to play well in the future,” he stated.
The Kumamoto Masters has witnessed the rise of new men’s doubles legends. With the HSBC BWF World Tour Finals still ahead, who knows what records they might break next?
What Others Said:
- Dechapol Puavaranukroh, after avenging their Indonesia Open final loss, stated their plan to play faster.
- Women’s singles champion Ratchanok Intanon focused on her game, adjusting and regaining focus despite some errors.
- Pearly Tan shared how they focused on each rally, changing their gameplay to be less predictable.
- Kodai Naraoka, after ending his two-year title drought, expressed relief.
Controversy & Comment Hooks: Do you think this duo can surpass the legends? What do you think contributed most to their success? Share your thoughts in the comments below!