Pui Yin smashes her way to glory, Chong Wei reigns supreme
News 9:45 AM
Yip Pui Yin grabbed her first title of the year while Malaysia’s Lee Chong Wei, once again, stamped his superiority to lift the men’s singles crown at the YONEX-SUNRISE Malaysia Open Grand Prix Gold tournament in Johor Baru on Sunday.
Indonesia were the biggest winners with two titles, thanks to their wins in the men’s doubles and mixed doubles. Malaysia, Thailand and Hong Kong took one title each.In the women’s singles, Pui Yin showed greater hunger and drive to smash her way past compatriot Zhou Mi to win the hour long battle 21-16, 14-21, 21-19.
Pui Yin also took advantage of her superior fitness and speed to trouble Zhou Mi time and time again. Prior to the win, Pui Yin’s best outing has been a quarter-final finish at the Swiss Open Super Series in March.
“I am delighted to get my first title this year and the win is a great morale booster ahead of the upcoming tournaments in Macau and Chinese Taipei,” said Pui Yin. The Macau Open will be played on 27 July to 1 Aug while the Chinese Taipei Open, both Grand Prix Gold events, will be played on 3 to 8 August.
“But the bigger picture is the World Championships and this win is also a positive development for my preparations for the world event.”
Chong Wei also did not have it easy as he n game before prevailing against Choong Hann in the men’s singles final. Chong Wei won 21-8, 14-21, 21-15.
"Although I won, I made too many unforced errors in the second game. It was due to over confidence as I won the first game easily," said Chong Wei.
"In the third game, I regained by focus and although there were several questionable line calls, I didn't let it affect my concentration."
Malaysia were denied a title in the women’s doubles by Thailand’s Duanganong Aroonkesorn-Kunchala Voravichitchaikul who beat Ng Hui Lin-Ng Hui Ern in three games.
Experience, or rather the lack of it, of playing in a major final, proved to be decisive and as the more experience Thai pair kept their composure in their 12-21, 21-17, 21-13 win over the Malaysians. Sunday's final was the Malaysian pair's first ever appearance in a final of an international tournament after forging their partnership in January.
Markis Kido-Hendra Setiawan survived a disastrous start in the first game to win the men’s doubles title when they beat Hendra Gunawan-Alvent Yulianto in all-Indonesia final.
Markis-Hendra, the reigning Olympic champions, dropped the first game 8-21 but recovered to win the next two games 21-17, 21-12.
“It is a good motivation for us and I am happy with our performance here. We are also slowly regaining our touch and I have also recovered from my injury,” said Markis.
“Hopefully we can build on this success.”
In the mixed doubles, Thailand’s Sudket Prapakamol-Saralee Thoungthongkam lost to Indonesia’s Devin Lahardi Fitriawan-Lilyana Natsir 21-13, 16-21, 17-21.
Posted by Lucas Liau
on 9:45 AM.
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