Back to back titles for Yamaguchi while Tanongsak wins his first Superseries
( Image Credit : Premiere Badminton League)
Thailand's Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk ( Image above) won his first superseries title - when he defeated Korea's Son Wan-ho in the men's singles final in Yonex Denmark Open Superseries Premier in Odense on Sunday.
Tanongsak threw himself on court and clutched his hands together for a prayer and dedicated his win to the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej and the people of Thailand.
Tanongsak toiled for 55 minutes for a 21-13, 23-21 win over Son-ho in the final in the USD700,000 Yonex Denmark Open Superseries Premier.
Wearing an all-white attire as the nation is mourning the death of their beloved King Bhumibol who passed away on Oct 13, Tanongsak's win brought some joy to the Thais.
Last month he won the Thailand Grand Prix gold and his win in the Denmark Open Superseries is rather a surprise but it "means a lot" to Tanongsak a confidence booster to his game and take it to a higher level.
"I am surprised by winning the Denmark Open. It means a lot to me because it is my first superseries title," said Tanongsak live on television.
The unseeded Tanongsak also earned his biggest pay cheque in his badminton career - USD52,500 - which came with the title while Wan-ho settled for 26,600 for his efforts.
Japan's Akane Yamaguchi celebrated back to back superseries wins in the women's singles after defeating Taiwan's No 8 seed Tai Tzu Ying 19-21, 21-14, 21-12 in the 58 minute final.
The 19-year-old Yamaguchi, who won the Victor Korea Open last month turned giant killer in the semi-finals when she beat Spain's world and Olympics champion Carolina Marin 21-15, 19-21, 21-18 in a marathon 82 minutes match.
There was also joy and celebrations for Malaysia when the country's No 1 men's doubles pair, No 4 seeds, Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong, came from a set down to beat the gritty Thai pair Bodin Isara-Nipitphon Puangphuapet 14-21, 22-20, 21-19 in a 61 minute thriller.
The women's doubles went Japan's way with Olympic champions and world No 1 Misaki Matsutomo-Ayaka Takahashi coming through three sets for a 19-21, 21-11, 21-16 win over second seeds Jung Kyung-eun-Shin Seung-chan of Korea in 68 minutes.
Denmark's mixed doubles pair Joachim Fischer Nielsen-Christinna Pedersen ended a five-year title drought some cheer to the home fans by winning the title. The No 5 seeds handed China's Zheng Siwei-Chen Qingchen a 21-16, 22-20 defeat in 47 minutes.
The last time home fans tasted victory was in 2011 - Nielsen-Pedersen won the mixed doubles.
Semi-Final Results
Men's singles
Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk (Tha) beat Son Wan-ho (Kor) 21-13, 23-21
Men's doubles
Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong (Mas) beat Bodin Isara-Nipitphon Phuangphuapet (Tha) 14-21, 22-20, 21-19
Women's singles
Akane Yamaguchi (Jpn) beat Tai Tzu Ying (Tpe) 19-21, 21-14, 21-12
Women's doubles
Misaki Matsumoto-Ayaka Takahashi (Jpn) beat Jung Kyung-eun-Shin Seung-chan (Kor) 19-21, 21-11, 21-16
Mixed doubles
Joachim Fischer Nielsen-Christinna Pedersen (Den) beat Zheng Siwei-Chen Qingchen (Chn) 21-16, 22-20
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