By Rizal Abdullah
Datuk Lee Chong Wei lived up to his billing as the top seed and world No 1 by winning the Japan Open title but it was tough all the way in final against third seed Jan O Jorgensen of Denmark.
It is Chong Wei’s sixth Japan Open title and the Rio Olympics silver medallist needed a good 70 minutes to subdue Denmark’s third seed Jan O Jorgensen with a 21-18, 15-21, 21-16 win.
His experience played a big role in his record sixth Japan Open title in the USD300,000 Superseries played at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium on a day when Jorgensen looked like running away with an upset win.
Tha Dane led 6-2 and 8-5 in the rubber but the Malaysian kept his “fighting and never give up spirit” alive and went home USD22,500 richer in prize money that came with the title.
It is Chong Wei’s third Superseries title this year after winning the Malaysian Open and the Indonesia Open. He also won the Malaysian Masters and the Asian title this year.
He first won his Japan Open in 2007 followed by four other titles in 2010, 2012, 2013 and 2014.
His next stop is the Korea Open.
Danish pair Christinna Pedersen-Kamilla Rytter Juhl put a dent in Japan’s pride and gained sweet revenge for their defeat in the Rio Olympic final when defeated world No 1 and top seeds Misaki Matsutomo-Ayaka Takahashi in the women’s doubles final.
The second seeded Danes beat the Olympic champions 19-21, 21-18, 21-12 in a 75-minute final.
Youth Olympic champion He Bingjiao defeated Sun Yu 21-14, 7-21, 21-18 in an all-China women’s singles final which lasted one hour. It was her first Superseries title.
World Junior champions Zheng Siwei-Chen Qingchen of China also won their first Superseries title when they beat top seeds Ko Sung-hyun-Kim Ha-na of Korea 21-10, 21-15 in the mixed doubles final.
China youngsters also showed their strength in the men’s doubles with Li Junhui-Liu Yuchen winning their first Superseries title with a 21-12, 21-12 win over Korea’s Kim Gi-jung-Ko Sung hyun in the final.
RESULTS (All-Finals)
Men’s singles
Lee Chong Wei (Mas) beat Jan O Jorgensen (Den) 21-18, 15-21, 21-16
Men’s doubles
Li Junhui-Liu Yucehn (Chn) beat Kim Gi-jung-Ko Sung-hyun (Kor) 21-12, 21-12
Women’s singles
He Bingjiao (Chn) beat Sun Yu (Chn) 21-14, 7-21, 21-18
Women’s doubles
Christinna Pedersen-Kamilla Rytter Juhl (Den) beat Misaki Matsutomo-Ayaka Takahashi (Jpn) 19-21, 21-18, 21-12
Mixed doubles
Zheng Siwei-Chen Qingchen (Chn) beat Ko Sung-hyun-Kim Ha-na (Kor) 21-10, 21-15
