Malaysia Open: Axelsen outclasses Naraoka to retain title
BERNAMA15 Jan 2023 08:00pm
Denmark's Viktor Axelsen celebrates after defeating Japan's Kodai Naraoka 21-7, 21-15 to retain the Malaysia Open men's singles title at the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur today. - Photo: BERNAMA
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Axelsen became the first European shuttler to succesfully defend the Malaysia Open title and the reigning Olympic and world champion pocketed USD87,500 (about RM 379,300) in prize money for winning the season opening Super 1000 tournament, while Naraoka received USD42,500 (about RM 184,200).
The women's singles saw world number one Akane Yamaguchi end Japan's 55-year wait to reclaim the Malaysia Open women's singles title, after she edged South Korean An Se Young in a thrilling final.
The victory saw the reigning world champion emerge as only the second Japanese to win the title after former Asian Games champion Hiroe Yuki's feat in 1968.
In the final, Yamaguchi bounced back from 12-21 down in the first, to deny Se Young the honour to become the first Korean by winning the remaining sets, 21-19, 21-11.
"Se Young played well in the first set, but I played better to beat her in the second and third sets as she got tired," said Yamaguchi, who extended her winning record to 10 out of 15 matches against Se Young.
"I am so happy to win this title, after no Japanese player was able to win it for long. I don't have any specific goal for this year, but want to play as best as can," she added.
Yamaguchi won USD87,500 (about RM 379,300) prize purse, while the runner-up received USD42,500 (about RM 184,200).
The mixed doubles final saw Zheng Si Wei-Huang Ya Qiong of China defeat Yuta Watanabe-Arisa Higashino of Japan 21-19, 21-11, while in the women's doubles final Chen Qing Chen-Jia Yi Fan of China beat Baek Ha Na-Lee Yu Lim of South Korea 21-16, 21-10.
The men's doubles title was won by Fajar Alfian-Muhammad Rian Ardianto of Indonesia after beating Wei Keng Liang-Chang Wang of China 21-18, 18-21, 21-13.
