Shadow attack: Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia returns the shuttlecock during the men’s singles final against Jan O
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World number two Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia snatched the men’s singles title at the BCA Indonesia Open Super Series Premier 2016 badminton tournament, making it his sixth win in the event to equal local legend Taufik Hidayat.
In Sunday’s finals, Lee defeated world number five Jan O. Jorgensen of Denmark 17-21, 21-19, 21-17.
Despite taking the first game Jorgensen was unable to break Lee’s spell in the remaining two games. It was the second encounter for both players, both of which Lee has won.
Lee lauded Jorgensen’s performance, saying that the Dane had made progress as compared with their previous meeting in the Malaysia Open.
“He played really well today,” Lee told an after-match press conference at Istora Gelora Bung Karno indoor stadium in Senayan, Jakarta.
“In fact, he managed to beat me in the first game. I then learned to focus only on how to catch up with his score, and to be more relaxed,” said Lee, who secured the final after ousting Indonesian Ihsan Maulana Mustofa in the semifinals.
Lee could not hide his excitement at winning, saying that his victory would definitely boost his confidence ahead of the Olympics slated to be held in August in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Previously, Lee won in 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2013. Taufik, who has since retired, won in 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005.
Other Indonesian shuttlers to have won the Indonesia Open six times are Ardi B. Wiranata who won the men’s singles in 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1995 and 1997; and Susi Susanti who took the women’s singles in 1989, 1991, 1994,1995,1996 and 1997.
Jorgensen complimented Lee on his performance. “I’ve been struggling this whole week. In fact, I also didn’t expect to be in the final round in this tournament,” said the Dane.
World number two Misaki Matsutomo and Ayaka Takahashi were the surprise winners of the women’s doubles, also becoming the first Japanese pair to do so, after beating world number three Tan Yuanting and Yu Yang of China 21-15, 8-21, 21-15.
China’s Xu Chen and Ma Jin defeated Ko Sung-hyun and Kim Ha-na of South Korea to claim the mixed doubles title.
South Korea, however, prevailed in the men’s doubles category as its duo Lee Yong-dae and Yoo Yeon-seong defeated Chai Biao and Hong Wei of China.
In the women’s singles final Tai Tzu Ying of Taiwan beat world’s fourth-ranked Wang Yihan, who earned her finals’ ticket by defeating world number one Carolina Marin of Spain.
The Indonesia Open has prizes of US$67,500 for singles winners, while each victorious doubles pair receives $71,100
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