South Korean ace An Se-young continued her winning ways in the new year clinching the women’s singles title at the Malaysian Open badminton championships in Kuala Lumpur.
The top ranked 24-year-old overcame a strong challenge from China’s Wang Zhiyi to claim her third consecutive title in Malaysia with a 56-minute 21-15, 24-22 victory in the final.
She trailed 1-6 early in the first set but regained control with her tenacious defense and sharp attacks, overturning the deficit to win the set 21-15. In the second set, she fell behind 13-19 but held off Wang Ziyi’s fierce attacks with a web-like defense, forcing errors to level the score at 19-19. After a tense deuce battle, she sealed the 24-22 victory with a powerful smash.
The win extends Se-young’s career win-loss record to 17-4 against Zhiyi.
It was, however, an unexpected end to men’s singles top seed Shi Yuqi of China, who was forced to retire in the final due to a right shoulder injury. He conceded the match to Thailand’s Kunlavut VItidsarn trailing 21-23, 1-6.
Vitidsarn’s victory ends a 68-year drought for Thailand in the men’s singles at the Malaysian Open. The last Thai player to win the title was Charoen Wattanasin in 1958.
Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi YIk’s hopes of giving Malaysia a title at home was denied by Korean top seeds Kim Won-ho-Seo Seung-jae. The Koreans won the title with a 21-15, 12-21, 21-18 win.
FINAL RESULTS
Men’s singles: Kunlavut Vitidsarn (Tha) bt Shi Yuqi (Chn) 23-21, 6-1 rtd
Men’s doubles: Kim Won-ho-Seo Seung-jae (Kor) bt Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi YIk (Mas) 21-15, 12-21, 21-18
Women’s singles: An Se-young (Kor) bt Wang Zhiyi (Chn) 21-15, 24-22
Women’s doubles: Liu Shengshu-Tan ing (Chn) bt Baek Ha-na-Lee So-hee (Kor) 21-18, 21-12
Mixed doubles: Feng Yanzhe-Huang Dongping (Chn) bt Jiang Zhenbang-Weiyayin (Chn) 21-19, 21-19
