Five players enjoy first Superseries success

The Yonex Sunrise India Open came to an exciting close on Sunday as five players tasted gold for the first time in their careers at an OSIM BWF World Superseries tournament.

South Korea’s Shon Wan Ho (left), led the way with a stunning three-game victory over world No. 1 and top seed Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia in the men’s singles, while compatriots Jung Kyung Eun-Kim Ha Na edged China’s Japan Open winners Bao Yixin-Zhong Qianxin in straight games in the women’s doubles.

Thailand’s Bodin Issara-Maneepong Jongjit stopped a third South Korean victory when they battled hard before getting the better of Ko Sung Hyun-Yoo Yeon Seong in the men’s double.

In between, Asian champion Li Xuerui of China grabbed her third consecutive title in the women’s singles and Indonesia’s defending champions Tontowi Ahmad-Liliyana Natsir made it back-to-back Superseries titles when they won the mixed doubles gold medal.

Wan Ho, who had never beaten Chong Wei in four previous encounters, celebrated his qualification to the Olympics by winning a titanic match 21-18, 14-21, 21-19.

A delighted Wan Ho told the media: “I was glad that I had simply qualified for the Olympics but it feels great to win my first Superseries crown.

“I was leading comfortably so I was confident. When he kept getting back, I got nervous. Luckily, I was able to keep my focus. When I got the chance to serve for the match I was able to make it count.

"I had nothing to lose and was confident. He gets a bit nervous playing the Koreans and my strokes and defence were brilliant.

"I took some time before serving at 20-19 as I knew he looks to attack. He was trailing in the match and so I held my nerves. I will next play in the Thomas Cup and then in Singapore and Indonesia before the Olympics.”

Bodin-Maneepong (right), didn’t fear second seeds Sung Hyun-Yeon Seong as they had beaten their opponents in the Thomas Cup qualifiers earlier this year. They continued their winning run by taking out their opponents in three games, winning 21-17, 14-21, 21-14 to become the first men’s doubles pair from Thailand to win a Superseries crown.

Kyung Eun-Ha Na (below), made up for their many near misses in the past by beating their Chinese opponents 21-17, 21-18 to finally take home their first Superseries title.

Li Xuerui ended Juliane Schenk’s one-woman show against China by getting the better of the German in three games.

Schenk, who had beaten two Chinese players, including top seed Wang Shixian, en route to the final, looked tired after reaching her second final in as many weeks and lost 14-21, 21-17, 21-8.

Schenk had also lost last week’s European Championships while Li Xuerui, who claimed her second Asian crown in as three years last Sunday, enjoyed a day off on Saturday when compatriot Jiang Yanjiao conceded a walkover.

Tontowi-Liliyana, who first announced their arrival on the world stage by winning this tournament a year ago, stopped Thailand’s Sudket Prapakamol-Saralee Thoungthongkam 21-16, 12-21, 21-14 to add the crown to their All England title.

For full results, click here.

Results (All finals)
Men
Singles: Shon Wan Ho (South Korea) bt Lee Chong Wei (Malaysia) 21-18, 14-21, 21-19.
Doubles: Bodin Issara-Maneepong Jongjit (Thailand) bt Ko Sung Hyun-Yoo Yeon Seong (South Korea) 21-17, 14-21, 21-14.

Women
Singles: Li Xuerui (China) bt Juliane Schenk (Germany) 14-21, 21-17, 21-8.
Doubles: Jung Kyung Eun-Kim Ha Na (South Korea) bt Bao Yixin-Zhong Qianxin (China) 21-17, 21-18.

Mixed doubles: Tontowi Ahmad-Liliyana Natsir (Indonesia) bt Sudket Prapakamol-Saralee Thoungthongkam (Thailand) 21-16, 12-21, 21-14.