J

aya Raya won the women’s category of the 2013 Djarum Superliga Badminton tournament after narrowly defeating Japan’s Unisys 3-2 in the final at DBL Arena in Surabaya on Friday.

The victory by Indonesia’s badminton club was decided in the fifth match in which Belaetrix Manuputy managed to eke out a 21-17, 19-21, 21-13 win over Aya Ohori.

Coach Bambang Supriyanto conceded it was a tough battle given the fact that both teams were preserving their winning chance until in the last seconds of the encounter.

Jaya Raya duly found itself down 0-2 after two matches when Thai Busanan Ongbumrungpan lost to Sayaka Takahashi 21-19, 14-21, 13-21 and Pia Zebadiah Bernadet/Rizki Amelia Pradipta went down to world No. 6 Ayaka Takahashi/Misaki Matsutomo 11-21, 21-19, 20-22.

Hopes later relied on Adrianti Firdasari, who played in replacement of injured Minatsu Mitani.

Bambang said that he had no option but to play Firdasari because Mitani of Japan suffered a foot injury.

Firdasari accomplished her mission well, winning over Shizuka Uchida 21-13, 21-18 and giving her club a lifeline.

“We somehow speculated by including Firdasari in the lineup and resting Mitani. It worked. Firda managed to carry out her task well and contributed a point in the third match,” Bambang told The Jakarta Post.

Jaya Raya leveled the score 2-2 after Nitya Krishinda Maheswari/Anneke Feinya Agustin seemed to encounter little trouble in booking a 21-10, 21-12 win over Naru Shinoya/Momoka Kimura before Belaetrix sealed the victory for her club.

Jaya Raya brought home Rp 400 million (US$41,378) in cash prizes while Unisys pocketed Rp 200 million.

“I felt tense in the third game but the coach motivated me to relax and focus,” Belaetrix said.

PB Djarum won third place by defeating Renesas of Japan 3-2.

Juliane Schenk opened the victory with a 21-17, 21-11 win over Kana Ito and Tai Tzu Ying made it 2-0 with her 21-17, 21-15 win over Ayumi Mine.

Renesas fought back through Yuki Fukushima, who chalked up a 21-19, 21-19 win over Maria Febe Kusumastuti. The score was 2-2 when Djarum’s Jenna Gozali/Komala Dewi had to abandoned their game due to injury, handing a win to Satoko Suesuna/Miyuki Maeda.

Vita Marissa/Meiliana Jauhari wrapped up the victory for Djarum after they scraped out a 21-23, 21-18, 21-15 win over Reika Kakiiwa/Yuki Fukushima.

The men’s trophy is still up for grabs as Tangkas Specs take on Musica Champion and Jaya Raya Suryanaga face Malaysian Tigers for spots in the final on Saturday.