Kim and Seo surge to men’s doubles title to round out YONEX All England 2025
Kim Won Ho and Seo Seung Jae of Korea ended Indonesia’s grip on the YONEX All England men’s doubles title with a 21-19 21-19 triumph over Leo Rolly Carnando and Bagas Maulana.
Indonesia had won the previous three titles, with Maulana triumphing in 2022, but were outclassed by Kim and Seo.
The Korean pair flew out of the gates and never really looked back on the way to their maiden All England title.
With the last final of the day barely begun, Kim and Seo surged into a huge lead. They showed no signs of the expected first-time finalists nerves to race to 13-2 ahead.
But with the experience of former champion Bagas Maulana on the Indonesians’ side, they did build into the game.
Maulana and Carnando heaped on the pressure as they cut the deficit to only two with Kim and Seo two points away from taking the opening game.
The pressure kept coming as Kim and Seo failed to take the first two game points of the final before they refocussed to close it out.
The second game was much closer as Carnando and Maulana took the lead in a game for the first time.
However, they soon found themselves trailing again, but this time they were only ever four points behind at most this time.
From there, runs of points were traded as four straight points pulled the world number 18s level, only for Kim and Seo to move two points ahead again.
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Carnando and Maulana were throwing everything at their opponents, who did not know when they were beaten as Kim returned two shots while lying on his back on the floor, before Carnando and Maulana eventually saw the pair off.
The Indonesian resistance could only last so long before Kim and Seo took the title at the first time of asking to claim Korea’s first men’s doubles title in Birmingham for 13 years.
Kim paid tribute to the last Koreans to win the title, Lee Yong Dae, who has been coaching the pair this week, and Jung Jae Sung, who passed away five years ago.
“I’m so chuffed that I can’t believe we won the title today,” he said. “I’d like to thank Seo for providing great leadership in our partnership.
“I’d like to thank our head coach, coaches and trainers, because with their support we were able to produce a good result today.
“I’d like to say a special thanks to coach Jung Jae Sung who passed away. I miss him dearly and I’m grateful for his support in the past.”
Reflecting on the final, Carnando said: “I am very happy to partner with Bagas. Just being in the final is not an easy thing so I am so glad that we got this opportunity.
“I feel like it is ok because we have already got the second place.”
Photo courtesy of Badmintonphoto
