Cheuk Yiu of Hong Kong and Thailand’s Ratchanok Intanon won the men’s and women’s singles titles in the USD120,000 Skycity New Zealand Open Grand Prix Gold which ended in Auckland on Sunday.
Ratchanok, the former world No 1 and world champion, defeated Japan’s No 4 seed Saena Kawakami 21-14, 16-21, 21-15 in 65 minutes to lift the title before she heads to the World Championships in Glasgow, Scotland.
Tzu-wei did not live up to his top billing in the men’s singles and lost to Hong Kong’s Lee Cheuk Yiu 11-21, 21-15, 22-20.
For Malaysia’s top women’s doubles pair Vivian Hoo-Woon Khe Wei winning the title would not have come at a better time as they gear up for the 29th Kuala Lumpur Sea Games.
The Malaysians won the gold at the 2013 Sea Games in Myanmar. However, they were beaten in the final in the 2015 Singapore Sea Games by compatriots Amelia Alicia Anscelly-Soong Fie Cho.
In the New Zealand Open final the Malaysian top seeds came through a tough 98 minute battle for their 18-21, 21-16, 21-19 win against Japan’s Ayako Sakuramoto-Yukiko Takahata – giving themselves a boost to regain the Sea Games gold.
In the men’s doubles final top seeds Chen Hung-ling-Wang Ch-lin of Chinese Taipei had an easy 21-16, 21-18 win over second seeds Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi of Malaysia.
The mixed doubles was won by Ronald Ronald-Annisa Saufika of Indonesia who defeated Sawan Serasinghe-Setyana Mapasa of Australia
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RESULTS (FINALS)
Men’s singles
Lee Cheuk Yiu (Hkg) beat Wang Tzu-wei (Tpe)Â 11-21, 21-15, 22-20
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Men’s doubles
Chen Hung-ling-Wang Chi-lin (Tpe) Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi (Mas) 21-16, 21-18
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Women’s singlesÂ
Ratchanok Intanon (Tha) beat Saena Kawakami (Jpn) 21-14, 16-21, 21-15
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Women’s doubles
Vivian Hoo-Woon Khe Wei (Mas) beat Ayako Sakuramoto-Yukiko Takahata (Jpn) 18-21, 21-16, 21-19
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Mixed doubles
Ronald Ronald-Annisa Saufika (Ina) beat Sawan Serasinghe-Setyana Mapasa (Aus) 21-19, 21-14
