Copenhagen (Denmark): An Se Young of Korea Republic and Kunlavut Vitidsarn of Thailand won the women’s and men’s singles titles while Chen Qingchen and Jia Yifan of China won the women’s doubles title for a record fourth time in the World Badminton Championship here on Sunday.
An Se Young defeated sixth seed Carolina Marin of Spain 21-12, 21-10 in 42 minutes in the women’s singles final.
Vitidsarn, the third seed from Thailand, quelled a strong fight from Japan’s Kodai Naraoka, coming back after losing the first game to win 19-21, 21-18, 21-7 in the men’s final that went on to one hour and 49 minutes.
In the women’s doubles, defending champions Chen Qingchen and Jia Yifan took a straight-game victory over Apriyani Rahayu and Siti Fadia Silva Ramadhanti of Indonesia on Sunday, becoming the first women’s pair to win four gold medals in the tournament’s history.
The top seeds, playing their fourth final in six appearances at the worlds, took 41 minutes to wrap up the victory 21-16, 21-12, expanding their head-to-head record against the Indonesian duo to 5-1, reports Xinhua.
In the mixed doubles final held earlier, China’s three-time champions Zheng Siwei and Huang Yaqiong were defeated by South Korea’s Seo Seung-jae and Chae Yu-jung to finish with silver medals.
The 25-year-old Seo has the chance to win another title in the tournament as he will pair with Kang Min-hyuk in the men’s doubles final later.
Meanwhile, top seeds Zheng Siwei and Huang Yaqiong of China missed their chance to win a record fourth World Championships mixed doubles title, losing to South Korea’s Seo Seung-Jae and Chae Yu-Jung for the first time in 10 encounters.
Fifth-seeded Seo and Chae needed 59 minutes to claim the victory 21-17, 10-21, 21-18, while 25-year-old Seo has the chance to win another title, as he will pair with Kang Min-hyuk in the men’s doubles final later.
The defending champions of China bounced back in the second game to pull the match into the decider. They saved three match points from 20-15 in the third game, only to see Seo’s powerful smashing end their chances.
(IANS)
