Double delight for hosts in Taiwan Open
TAIWAN celebrated a rare double when Chou Tien Chen and Tai Tzu Ying walked away with the men's and women's singles titles in the Yonex Taiwan Open Grand Prix Gold in Taipeh on Sunday.
Tien Chen became only the second player from his country to win the Taiwan Open - after Fung Permadi won it in 1999.
In Sunday's final Tien Chen defeated China's unseeded youngster Qiao Bin in the final. The Taiwanese played a cool game to beat Qiao Bin 21-18, 21-17 in 56 minutes to pocket USD15,000. Qiao Bin's efforts made him USD7,600 richer.
And it was a double celebration as earlier Tzu Ying staged a strong performance in the first set and then ran out an easy winner in the second for an emphatic 23-21-6 win over China's top seed and hot favourite Wang Shixian in the women's final which lasted 46 minutes.
A beaten semi-finalist last year Tzu Ying last won the title in 2012. Just like Tien Chen, Tai Tzu also pocketed USD15,000 in prize money for her efforts. And among the fans who had come to watch her play, one lucky fan went home with a prized momento - Tzu Ying's racquet after the player threw it into the stands following her victory.
The joy of winning the title in front of his home fans was written all over Tien Chen's face as he threw his racquet and sank to the floor in sheer delight, He won 21-18, 21-17.
Taiwan failed to add a third title when Li Junhui-Liu Yuchen defeated Taiwan hopes Chen Hung Lin-Wang Chi Lin in the men's doubles final. The top seeded Chinese pair won a closely fought final that lasted a solid one hour before prevailing 21-17, 17-21, 24-22.
The women's doubles final was an all-China affair with Huang Dongping-Zhong winning the title with an upset over top seeds - Luo twins - Luo Ying-Luo Yu 21-18, 21-16 in 46 minutes.
China also won the mixed doubles title with fifth seeds Zheng Siwei-Chen Qingchen defeating Malaysia's unseeded pair Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing 21-13, 21-16 in the final.
RESULTS (All Finals)
Men's singles
Chou Tien Chen (Tpe) beat Qiao Bin (Chn) 21-18, 21-17
Men's Doubles
Li Junhui-Liu Yuchen (Chn) beat Chen Hung Ling-Wang Chi-Lin (Tpe) 21-17, 17-21, 24-22
Women's singles
Tai Tzu Ying (Tpe) beat Wang Shixian (Chn) 23-21, 21-6
Women's doubles
Huang Dongping-Zhong Qianxin (Chn) beat Luo Ying-Luo Yu (Chn) 21-18, 21-16
Mixed Doubles
Zheng Siwei-Chen Qingchen (Chn) beat Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing (Mas) 21-13, 21-16
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