TOKYO: Two-time champion Lee Chong Wei fended off a spirited challenge from Boonsak Ponsana to win the men’s singles title at the Chinese-boycotted Japan Open badminton tournament on Sunday.
The Malaysian top seed, the winner in Japan in 2007 and 2010, powered his way through to a 21-18, 21-18 victory over the Thai.
In the women’s singles final, Tai Tzu-ying of Taiwan dashed any hopes of a title for Japan by beating Eriko Hirose 9-21, 21-9, 21-14.
South Korea’s Kim Ki-Jung and Kim Sa-Rang defeated Koo Kien Keat and Tan Boon Heong 21-16, 21-19 to win the men’s doubles, while Poon Lok-yan and Tse Ying-suet brought the first Japan title to Hong Kong.
They also dashed local hopes by beating Shizuka Matsuo and Mami Naito 21-17, 22-20.
Earlier in the day, Chan Peng Soon teamed up with Goh Liu Ying to beat Indonesia’s Muhammad Rijal and Liliyana Natsir 21-12, 21-19 in the mixed doubles final.
“It was really a good match, but it was tough,” said Lee, 29.
“This is my first tournament after the London Olympics. I’m very happy to start with this victory. I can put my disappointment behind me,” said Lee, who lost to China’s Lin Dan in the Olympic finals both in London and Beijing.
Lin, along with the rest of the Chinese team, missed the Tokyo tournament due to a boycott over a diplomatic wrangle about disputed islands in the East China Sea.
Lee hit a smash to take the first game. But neither could take a decisive lead at the start of the second game, which at one point was tied at 5-5.
Lee then jumped ahead 10-6 with several disguised overhead drop shots combined with a smash before powering his way to a commanding 20-15 lead.
Boonsak tenaciously saved three match points while trailing 18-20, but his jump smash went wide after a long rally on the next point, giving the 42-minute match to Lee.
The win saw Lee improve his record against Boonsak to 14 wins against two defeats.
Tai became the first player from Taiwan to win the women’s singles title in the 30-year Japan Open history and only the second Taiwanese to win the title, following the mixed doubles by Chen Hung-ling and Cheng Wen-hsing last year.
“For me, it was my first title in the Superseries, so I’m really happy about it. She (Hirose) was too good in the first game, but I played better in the rest. I was able to win because I took the lead first in the final,” Tai said.
“It was my first event after the Olympics. I got off to a good start to the following four years before the next Olympics. I was able to play without any pressure. That’s why I won,” added Tai, 18.
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Lee beats Boonsak to win Japan Open
Lee beats Boonsak to win Japan Open
Ton-up Farhan helps Pakistan seal Super Eight spot with Namibia rout
- It was Farhan’s maiden T20 ton and he became only the second Pakistani to score a T20 World Cup century after Ahmed Shehzad in 2014 against Bangladesh
COLOMBO: Sahibzada Farhan hit a magnificent unbeaten century to help Pakistan seal the final Super Eight berth at the T20 World Cup with a thumping 102-run win over Namibia in Colombo on Wednesday.
Farhan scored 100 not out off 58 balls with four sixes and 10 fours as Pakistan posted 199-3 before they routed Namibia for 97 in 17.3 overs.
Pakistan’s victory took them to six points from four games in Group A and eliminated the United States, who finished with four points.
India also have six points and play the Netherlands in the group’s final game later Wednesday.
The defending champions India, South Africa, Zimbabwe and the West Indies will play each other in the Super eights Group 1, hosted in India.
Pakistan join New Zealand, England and co-hosts Sri Lanka in Group 2, hosted in Sri Lanka.
After a morale-shattering 61-run defeat against India, Pakistan needed a victory to avoid an early exit, which was achieved with ease as spinners Usman Tariq (4-16) and Shadab Khan (3-19) tore through the Namibia batting.
Louren Steenkamp scored 23 while Alexander Busing-Volschenk was the only other batsman to reach double figures with 20.
‘Complete performance’
Skipper Salman Agha praised a clinical show.
“It is a complete performance,” said a relieved Agha.
“We batted well and Farhan anchored the innings. He has been batting well for a while and I am happy that he got his hundred.
“With the ball we were lethal.”
Namibian skipper Gerhard Erasmus admitted Pakistan’s spin bowlers were too hot to handle.
“It (spin) is a special skill to have, to turn the ball both ways like they do,” said Erasmus.
“I think that’s one of the things we’ll definitely take home and look to improve on.”
Farhan earlier blasted a six and a four off pace bowler Jack Brassell to enter the 90s before taking a single off Gerhard Erasmus to complete his hundred in the final over.
It was Farhan’s maiden T20 ton and he became only the second Pakistani to score a T20 World Cup century after Ahmed Shehzad in 2014 against Bangladesh.
Shadab Khan, promoted to No. 5 with Babar Azam left out, hit three sixes and a four in his 36 not out off 22 balls as Pakistan smashed 42 from the last three overs.
Farhan put on 40 for the opening wicket with Saim Ayub (14) before consolidating the innings during a 67-run second wicket stand with captain Salman Agha (38).
Pakistan also left out pace bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi after a poor show in the first three matches, including conceding 31 in two overs in the defeat against India on Sunday.
Farhan’s ton means this is the first T20 World Cup in which three centuries have been scored.
He followed Sri Lanka’s Pathum Nissanka, who scored a hundred against Australia on Monday, and Canada’s Yuvraj Sama who reached three figures against New Zealand on Tuesday.
