# India’s Srikanth wins his fourth superseries title
# Indonesia and Chinese Taipei win two titles each in Paris
There is no stopping India’s K. Srikanth when he walked away with the Yonex French Open Superseries men’s singles title in Paris on Sunday – just a week after winning the Danisa Denmark Open in Odense.
In the French Open final the Indian defeated Japan’s Kenta Nishimoto 21-14, 21-13 in 35 minutes for his fourth Superseries title in five finals.
This is the second time the talented Indian has won back-to-back titles. Earlier this year, after reaching the Singapore Open final the 25-year-old Srikanth won the BCA Indonesia Open Superseries Premier, followed by the Australian Open.
“I am not chasing points for the world number one but I am pleased with the way things are shaping up for me. It is a big boost for me in my chase to win the season ending Dubai Superseries Finals,” said Srikanth, who has never won the Superseries Finals.
He is also the first Indian to have won four Superseries titles in a season and more can be expected from Srikanth as India continues to make inroads in badminton.
The women’s singles title went to world No 1 Tai Tzu Ying of Chinese Taipei. The top seed, playing a cool and relaxed game, handed Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi a 21-4, 21-16 defeat in 31 minutes.
“If I eat well, sleep well, I will play well,” Tzu Ying was quoted by the BWF website after her victory. And this is exactly what she did in the French Open.
However, it was a bad day for defending champions Matias Boe and Carsten Morgensen in the men’s doubles. The number two seeds from Denmark were at the receiving end in Paris.
The Danish pair were handed a surprise 19-21, 21-23 beating by Lee Jhe-huei-Lee Yang of Chinese Taipei who celebrated their first Superseries title, adding joy to Tzu Ying’s victory in the women’s singles.
Last year, China’s Chen Qingchen won two titles – the women’s doubles with Jia Yifan and the mixed doubles with Zheng Siwei – but this time around she could only manage a runners-up place on the podium in the mixed doubles.
Zheng Siwei-Qingchen, the top seeds in the mixed doubles suffered a 20-22, 15-21 defeat in 54 minutes by Indonesia’s world and Rio Olympics champions Tontowi Ahmad-Liliyana Natsir.
Indonesia added a second title in Paris when Greysia Polii-Apriyani Rahayu, paired together just five months ago, won their first superseries title.
The Indonesians upset newly crowned Denmark Open champions Lee So-hee-Shin Seung-chan 21-17, 21-15 in 54 minutes.
At the end of the day Indonesia and Chinese Taipei won two titles each while India won as the Asians continue to flex their muscles in Europe. – BADMINTON ASIA
RESULTS (ALL FINALS)
MEN’S SINGLES
Srikanth (IND) beat Kenta Nishimoto (JPN) 21-14, 21-14
MEN’S DOUBLES
Lee Jhe Huei-Lee Yang TPE) beat Mathias Boe-Carsten Morgensen (DEN) 21-19, 23-21
WOMEN’S SINGLES
Tai Tzu Ying (TPE) beat Akane Yamaguchi (JPN) 21-4, 21-16
WOMEN’S DOUBLES
Greysia Polii-Apriyani Rahayu (INA) beat Lee So-hee-Shin Seung-chan (KOR) 21-17, 21-15
MIXED DOUBLES
Tontowi Ahmad-Liliyana Natsir (INA) beat Zheng Siwei-Chen Qingchen (CHN) 22-20, 21-15
