*Denmark show their might in the women’s and mixed doubles
* Japan also take the men’s doubles
It was an all-South Korean men’s singles final in the USD120,000 Yonex Sunrise Malaysian Masters Open Grand Prix Gold at the Stadium Perpaduan in Kuching on Sunday with veteran Lee Hyun Il coming off tops against Jeon Hyeok-jin with a come-from-behind 19-21, 21-13, 21-15 win for the USD9,000 winner’s purse.
Hyun-Il, 34, rode on his experience against the 19-year-old rising Korean star but what was seen before the prize presentation was certainly heart warming with the champion gesturing some tips on what his young compatriot should have done, probably during some rallies – bringing the smile on Hyeok-jin’s face and cheer him up for the loss.
Despite the defeat Hyeok-jin took home USD4,560 for his efforts for the 55 minutes he was on court.
The women’s singles final was an all-Japan affair with giant killer Nozomi Okuhara returning home USD9,000 richer in her 21-13, 21-17 win over Sayaka Takahashi in 49 minutes. Nozomi had toppled second seed P.V. Sindhu in the semi-finals in a three-set thriller. Sayaka won USD4,560.
If the Koreans and the Japanese ruled in the singles, Denmark ruled the doubles events with Christinna Pedersen the big winner – winning the women’s doubles with Kamilla Rytter Juhl and the mixed doubles with Joachim Fischer Nielsen.
In the women’s doubles Christinna-Kamilla, the top seeds, were too strong for Japan’s Naoko Fukuman-Karumi Yanao with a 21-14, 21-14 win in 47 minutes for her first title. She later teamed up with Joachim in the mixed doubles final and the top seeds carved out a 21-18, 21-18 win over second seeds Praveen Jordan-Debby Susanto of Indonesia in 48 minutes.
But it was Japan who ended the day as the biggest winners when Kenta Kazuno-Kazushi Yamada upstaged Taiwan’s eighth seeds Chen Hung Lin-Wang Chi-lin 21-19, 14-21, 21-17 after a 52 minute battle.
RESULTS (All Finals)
Men
Singles
Lee Hyun Il (Kor) beat Jeon Hyook Jin (Kore) 19-21, 21-13, 21-15
Doubles
Kenta Kazuno-Kazushi Yamada (Jpn) beat Chen Hung Lin-Wang Chi-lin (Tpe) 21-19, 14-21, 21-17
Women
Singles
Nozomi Okuhara (Jpn) beat Sayaka Takahashi (Jpn) 21-13, 21-17
Doubles
Christinna Pedersen-Kamilla Rytter Juhl (Den) beat Naoko Fukuman-Karumi Yanao (Jpn) 21-14, 21-14
Mixed doubles
Joachim Fischer Nielsen-Christina Pedersen (Den) beat Praveen Jordan-Debby Susanto (Ina) 21-18, 21-18
