Sung Ji Hyun

# World No 1 Chen Long tames error prone Ajay to retain his title

# Korea’s Ji-hyun takes women’s singles

# Korea also win men’s doubles

 

India’s Ajay Jayaram, playing in his maiden Super Series final, made too many errors and lost tamely to defending champion Chen Long of China in the men’s singles final in the USD600,000 Viktor Korea Open in Seoul on Sunday.

The 27-year-old Indian could not keep his nerves and eventually lot 14-21, 13-21 in 39 minutes at the SK Handball Stadium (Olympic Gymnasium 2) in Songpa-Ga, Seoul.

Chen Long was USD45,000 richer with the title while Ajay took home USD22,800 for his efforts and gallant run in Seoul. Enroute to the final Ajay scalped some of the big names in badminton.

The world No 32 ranked Indian knocked out Yonex Japan Open runners-up Victor Axelsen (world No 6), Japan veteran Sho Sasaki and Taiwan’s world No 7 Chou Tien Chen but the final turned out to be a hurdle too high.  

For Chen Long, the World No 1 and reigning world champion it was a welcome return to his winning ways after failing in the Japan Open. In last year’s Korean Open final, Chen Long defeated Malaysia’s Datuk Lee Chong Wei. 

For Ajay, it is still a creditable performance in Seoul after reaching the semi-finals in the Malaysian Masters Grand Prix Gold, the Swiss Open GP Gold and the Russian Open GP this year.

The men’s doubles, as expected, went to top seeds Lee Yong-dae-YooYeon-seong who had little difficulty against compatriots Kim Gi-jung-Kim Sa-rang and ran out 21-16, 21-12 winners for the USD47,400 purse that came with it. The losers took home USD22,800.

Korea also celebrated the women’s singles title when sixth seed Sung Ji-hyun battled for 78 minutes before prevailing 21-14, 17-21, 21-18 against fourth seed Wang Yihan of China.

The women’s doubles title was won by Indonesia’s Nitya Krishinda Maheswari-Greysia Polii. The sixth seeds defeated the unseeded Korean pair of Chang Ye-na-Lee So-hee 21-15, 21-18 in 48 minutes.

Top seeds Zhang Nan-Zhao Yunlei of China outplayed seeds Tontowi Ahmad-Liliyana Natsir of Indonesian 21-16, 21-15 in the mixed doubles final.

 

Results (All Finals)

MEN

Singles

Chen Long (Chn) beat Ajay Jayaram (Ind) 21-14, 21-13

 

Doubles

Lee Yong-dae-Yuu Yeon-seong (Kor) Kim Gi-hyung-Kim Sa-rang (Kor) 21-16, 21-12

 

WOMEN

Singles

Sung Ji-hyun (Kor) beat Wang Yihan (Chn) 21-14, 17-21, 21-18

 

Doubles

Nitya Krishinda Maheswari=Gresia Polii (Ina) beat Chang Ye-na-Lee So-hee (Kor) 21-15, 21-18

 

MIXED DOUBLES

Zhang Nan-Zhao Yunlei (Chn) beat Tontowi Ahmad-Liliyana Nastsir (Ina) 21-16, 21-15

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