China’s Wen Ruibo claimed the WTT Contender Taiyuan men’s singles title in Shanxi, defeating Maharu Yoshimura 7-11, 11-8, 6-11, 11-6, 11-4, 11-2.
The women’s singles title race also reached its conclusion with top seed Satsuki Odo of Japan emerging as champion.
Ruibo, who made headlines at the recent WTT Champions Chongqing with his run to the final, was back in a title match once again. Having runners-up in Chongqing, Ruibo looked destined for second best again as qualifier Yoshimura set the tone early on.
With two of the opening three games going in favour of the Japanese player, the prospect of seeing a qualifier with the title became increasingly likely. However, Ruibo would steady the ship, upping the ante in game four to draw level at 2-2. From that moment on, the tide had turned and Ruibo didn’t look back, kicking the afterburners into action in the fifth and sixth games to speed away into the distance.
Laying claim to his first WTT Series title earlier this season in Muscat, Ruibo now moves to two singles titles at Contender level, and on the evidence of the past few months, there could be many more success stories to come.
Ruibo also won the men’s doubles title partnering Li Hechen, The duo defeated top seeded teammates Lin Shidong-Huang Youzheng 12-10, 10-12, 11-7, 8-11, 11-8 in the final.
Defending champion Odo, facing off against fellow Japanese star Hitomi Sato, found her rival a tough nut to crack.
Sato gave Odo a good run for her money in games two, three and four. However, Odo came away with two of those games, striking while the iron was hot to deny Sato 11-5, 11-9, 3-11, 13-11, 11-6.
Elsewhere, Shi Xunyao picked up her second doubles trophy of the week, partnering Han Feier to women’s doubles glory.
The fourth seeded pair upstaged third seeds Doo Hoi Kem-Ng Wing Lam 11-6, 11-4, 6-11, 12-10.
FINAL RESULTS
Men’s singles: Wen Ruibo (Chn) bt Maharu Yoshimura (Jpn) 7-11, 11-8, 6-11, 11-6, 11-4, 11-2
Men’s doubles: Wen Ruibo-Li Hechen (Chn) bt Lin Shidong-Huang Youzheng (Chn) 12-10, 10-12, 11-7, 8-11, 11-8
Women’s singles: Satsuki Odo (Jpn) bt Hitomi Sato (Jpn) 11-5, 11-9, 3-11, 13-11, 11-6
