World No. 1 Lee Chong Wei needed only 33 minutes to beat Peter Gade of Denmark 21-8, 21-16 to win the men’s singles title at the World Super Series Masters Finals yesterday.
The Malaysian, who was seeded No. 1 for the year-ending tournament, was in devastating form and showed no mercy for his Danish opponent, who faced a partisan crowd at the Likas Stadium.
Lee pocketed US$40,000 for his effortless win in the Badminton World Federation tournament, while Gade took the consolation prize of US$20,000.
Lee was in complete control in the first set as he ruled the court and opened up a massive 14-1 lead, before going on to win 21-8 in only 12 minutes. He led 11-6 in the second set, but allowed his opponent to draw level at 13-13 before the Dane went ahead for the first time at 14-13. However, it stopped at that and the Malaysian brought out smashes and some neat net play to romp home 21-16 in 32 minutes for the title.
In the men’s doubles, the former All England winning pair of Koo Kien Kiat and Tan Boon Heong ended their season on a high when they made easy work of their South Korean opponents, Jung Jae-sung and Lee Yong-dae, winning 21-18, 21-14 in 37 minutes.
The all-Hong Kong women’s singles final was a tame affair with top seeded Zhou Mi making quick work of compatriot Wang Chen, 21-14, 21-18.
Malaysia made a hat-trick of wins in the tournament when their top seeded women’s pair walked away with the doubles title.
Chin Eei Hui and Wong Pei Tty overcame Indonesia’s Vita Marissa and Lilyana Natsir 21-15, 22-20 in 34 minutes to lift the crown.
Denmark’s Thomas Laybourn and Kamilia Rytter took the mixed doubles crown against Indonesian pair Nova Widianto and Lilyana Natsir, 21-19, 18-21, 22-20.
OUT AGAINST INDONESIA: Taiwan reached the semi-finals at the tournament for the first time by defeating Denmark, with Chou Tien-chen beating Viktor Axelsen Taiwan yesterday crashed out of the Thomas Cup team competition in Chengdu, China, but achieved their best result at the top-tier badminton event by reaching the semi-finals. Indonesia were too good in the semis, winning 3-0 to advance to today’s final against China, who eliminated Malaysia 3-1. In the opening singles of the men’s team clash at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Center Gymnasium 2, Anthony Ginting defeated Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen 21-18, 21-19 in 51 minutes, which put a huge hole in Taiwan’s aspirations to perhaps even make the final. In the men’s doubles, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Ardianto downed Lee Yang and Wang
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