*My experience today at finals*
Matches were slated to start at 12 noon. I reached the venue at 11. There was a long queue. Majority of them were young fans. We entered the complex and those who knew how to get the best seats, they were sprinting. So was I. Got the tickets after 1st sprint and then again I sprinted to the main gate of the arena. I was fortunate enough to get the best seats for myself. This year, management of tickets were way better. But I feel it’d be nice if they allot seat number with the ticket in future. Tickets were free for all. So you could sit anywhere where you want subject to availability. There was no catering service like last year. Last year they gave the contract to INOX and even didn’t let any water bottle in. I thought this year would be the same. So didn’t bring any bottle and food. To my dismay, there was nothing and people were thirsty and hungry. That’s a downgrade for me. Coming to matches.
XD- Thailand vs China. Majority of fans, actually everyone except 10-15 Chinese fans in the arena were supporting Thailand. Personally, I was excited watching Sapsiree play live. What a player in live view. Total alpha in the partnership. Great atmosphere. Every point for Thailand was cheered for heavily. I myself initiated sometimes like “Let’s go Thailand let’s go”.
WS- TTY vs CYF. Repeat of Tokyo Olympics final. Again, for the first time was watching TTY play. I can say now I’ve seen the best player in history (personally in terms of gameplay and word tour titles) live. Her deceptions, calmness, single leg action while doing drop. Everything was mesmerising the fans present and to the annoyance of Chinese fans
She totally owned CYF I feel. Some of the winning points of CYF were top class. There was a TTY fan in the front, possibly Indian with a placard - I travelled 800 km to watch Tai Tzu Ying play
WD- Personally, wasn’t interested in this. But, they made me hopeless to think that WD is boring. Watching them live was really good. Relentless attack and good rallies. Japanese fans were 6-7 in number where I was sitting. They themselves were silent and it was the Indians who were supporting “Let’s go Japan let’s go”. There was some mad Indian who was continuously cheering lol. Japanese were surprised that even we are not excited like him haha. Japanese fans brought small Japan flags. One of the Indians poked the Japanese flag in the clapping balloon and was waving it. Have to say “Anime culture” has brought Japan closer to many Indians’ heart. One Indian kid, some 5-6 years old wanted that Japan flag and Japanese fan gave extra flag to him. The child got happy, so was the person who gave the flag.
MS- SYQ vs LCY. Shi Yuqi is a class player. He looks much classier live than on screen. His favourite over the head cross court smash was a thing of beauty.
@Cheung at 0-3 of first game, I initiated “Let’s go Hong Kong let’s go”, but no one said anything after me so I had to stop. The girl sitting beside me was a fan of LCY. I asked her what do you like about her ? She said attitude. I was like okay lol. She also added that she liked the stare of LCY against Kodai last night. 30 percent of Indians cheered for SYQ. And rest 70 percent were getting impressed by LCY comeback so LCY was able to bring them to his favour. Then came the chants of “Let’s go HK let’s go”. The match ended in favour of SYQ. 30 percent who were supporting him were on my section of the stand. So after the match, SYQ bowed to all fans. And when he threw the racket to 5-6 Chinese on opposite side, these fans started complaining to each other “we chanted for you whole time and the Chinese fans were silent, why did you give it to them?” Lol.
MD- Now everyone was waiting for SatwikChirag to come through that entrance door. The hype was real. The buzz got louder. Total world class badminton at least from live perspective, don’t know how you guys felt on the screen. Chanting was real. I controlled my section of the stand, there were 3-4 more people whom I told to cheer. Rest were just happy with balloon claps. Throat got really bad. The result was not in our favour but there was no lack of action from our side or SatwikChirag.
I consoled one young fan whom I acquainted in the morning - Not each day is our day. We defeated the same pair in Asian Games gold match. Which match is more important? This one or Asian games gold ? He got calmed down and we returned. Experience was surreal.
