Badminton: Lee clinches Japan Open

TOKYO: Two-time champion Lee Chong Wei fended off a spirited challenge from Boonsak Ponsana to win the men’s singles title at the Chinese-boycotted Japan Open badminton tournament yesterday. The Malaysian top seed, who won in Japan in 2007 and 2010, powered his way through to a 21-18, 21-18 victory over the Thai. In the women’s singles final, Tai Tzu-ying of Taiwan dashed any hopes of a title for Japan by beating Eriko Hirose 9-21, 21-9, 21-14. Tai became the first player from Taiwan to win the women’s singles title in the 30-year tournament history. “For me, it was my first title in the Superseries, so I’m really happy about it,” said Tai. “She (Hirose) was too good in the first game, but I played better in the rest. I was able to win because I took the lead first in the final.”

Published in The Express Tribune, September 24^th, 2012.