World champion Axelsen defeats Lee Chong Wei for first Japan Open title
The Dane edged the Malaysian superstar in three games while Marin takes women’s singles title in Tokyo
World champion Viktor Axelsen of Denmark beat Malaysia’s Lee Chong Wei on Sunday to clinch his first Japan Open title.
Axelsen, who defeated two-time Olympic champion Lin Dan of China to bag the world title in Glasgow last month, edged out Lee 21-14, 19-21, 21-14 in the men’s singles final.
Lee, who has won the Japan Open six times including last year, narrowly took the second game but the Dane put in a brilliant performance to triumph in the third.
In the women’s singles Carolina Marin of Spain, last year’s Olympic gold medallist, overwhelmed He Bingjiao of China 23-21, 21-12.
Japan’s Rio Olympics gold medallists Ayaka Takahashi and Misaki Matsutomo beat South Korea’s Kim Ha-na and Kong Hee-yong 21-18, 21-16 in the women’s doubles final, to the delight of local fans at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium.