BADMINTON: Japan has fine finalists, three wins in Hong Kong Open

A powerful Japanese entry in the Hong Kong Open claimed half of the spots in the finals and came away with three wins in five divisions.

The world’s no. 1-ranked Doubles teams of Marcus Fernaldi Gideon and Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo (INA) and Yuki Fukushima and Sayaka Hirota both won, with the Indonesians overcoming Japan’s Takeshi Kamura and Keigo Sonoda.

The Mixed Doubles title belonged to Japan as well, with Yuta Watanabe and Arisa Higashino defeating the world’s no. 2-ranked team of Yilyu Wang and Dongpong Huang (CHN).

Japan earned the women’s Singles title with Nozomi Okuhara besting Thai Ratchanok Intanon but Korea’s Wan Ho Son defeated Kenta Nishimoto (JPN) for the men’s Singles crown in three contested sets. Summaries:

BWF World Tour/Hong Kong Open
Hong Kong (HKG) ~ 13-18 November 2018
(Full results here)

Men’s Singles: 1. Wan Ho Son (KOR); 2. Kenta Nishimoto (JPN); 3. Kento Momota (JPN) and Cheuk Liu Lee (HKG). Semis: Son d. Momota, 18-21, 21-16, 21-19; Nishmoto d. Lee, 21-18, 21-12. Final: Son d. Nishimoto, 14-21, 21-17, 21-13.

Men’s Doubles: 1. Marcus Fernaldi Gideon/Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo (INA); 2. Takeshi Kamura/Keigo Sonoda (JPN); 3. Fajar Alfian/Muhammad Rian Ardianto (INA) and Mohammad Ahsan/Hendra Setiawan (INA). Semis: Kamura/Sonoda d. Alfian/Ardianto, 24-22, 21-15; Gideon/Sukamuljo d. Ahsan/Setiawan, 21-14, 18-21, 21-9. Final: Gideon/Sukamuljo d. Kamura/Sonoda, 21-13, 21-12.

Women’s Singles: 1. Nozomi Okuhara (JPN); 2. Ratchanok Intanon (THA); 3. Ji Hyun Sung (KOR) and Tzu Ying Tai (TPE). Semis: Intanon d. Sung, 10-21, 21-11, 21-17; Okuhara d. Tai, 21-12, 3-1 (withdrew). Final: Okuhara d. Intanon, 21-19, 24-22.

Women’s Doubles: 1. Yuki Fukushima/Sayaka Hirota (JPN); 2. So Hee Lee/Seung Chan Shin (KOR); 3. Greysia Polii/Apriyani Rahayu (INA) and Shiho Tanaka/Koharu Yonemoto (JPN). Semis: Fukushima/Hirota d. Polii/Rahayu, 20-22, 21-9, 21-12; Lee/Shin d. Tanaka/Yonemoto, 21-16, 21-12. Final: Fukushima/Hirota d. Lee/Shin, 21-18, 21-17.

Mixed Doubles: 1. Yuta Watanabe/Arisa Higashino (JPN); 2. Yilyu Wang/Dongping Huang (CHN); 3. Yang Lee/Ya Ching Hsu (TPE) and Decapol Puavaranukroh/Sapsiree Taerattanachai (THA). Semis: Watanabe/Higashino d. Lee/Hsu, 21-11, 21-10; Wang/Huang d. Puavaranukroh/ Taerattanachai, 21–17, 21-13. Final: Watanabe/Higashino d. Wang/Huang, 21-18, 21-14.