Kento stuns Chen, Tai Tzu wins Badminton Asia Championship 2018

Kento Momota stunned Olympic gold medallist Chen Long in the upsetting finals to clinch the Badminton Asia Championship on Sunday.

World No. 17 marked a great victory against Chen for the first time in their career meets. Kento defeated Chen with 21-17, 21-13 in Wuhan.

Southpaw Momota had Chen firmly on the back foot as he reeled off seven straight points to clinch the title in one hour when the world number three netted. Momota, previously defeated the Malaysian star Lee Chong Wei in the semi-finals on Saturday.

While in the Women’s singles finals, Tai Tzu Ying survived the scare, yet with tranquility,  in the finals against the local Chen Yufei and clinched the trophy with a 21-19, 22-20 win on Sunday.

It is Yufei’s second loss against Tai this year after losing in the All England Open last month and it is her eighth loss in their career meet.

Earlier, the home mixed doubles pair of Wang Yilyu and Huang Dongping registered a 21-17, 21-17 win over top-seeded Tontowi Ahmad and Liliyana Natsir of Indonesia.

In the men's double final, reigning champions Li Junhui and Liu Yuchen of China claimed a sensational win. Coming from one game down, the Chinese duo overcame Japan's Takeshi Kamura and Keigo Sonoda 11-21, 21-10, 21-13 to defend their title.

Meanwhile, the women's double final saw a battle between two Japanese pairs. Yuki Fukushima and Sayaka Hirota defeated Misaki Matsutomo and Ayaka Takahashi 21-18, 18-21, 21-15.

Final Results:

Mixed Doubles: Wang Yilyu/Huang Dongping beat Tontowi Ahmad/Liliyana Natsir with 21-17, 21-17;

Men’s Singles: Kento Momota beat Chen Long with 21-17, 21-13;

Men’s Doubles: Li Junhui/Liu Yuchen beat Takeshi Kamura/Keigo Sonoda with 11-21, 21-10, 21-13;

Women’s Singles: Tai Tzu Ying beat Chen Yufei with 21-19, 22-20;

Women’s Doubles: Yuki Fukushima/Sayaka Hirota beat Misaki Matsutomo/Ayaka Takahashi with 21-18, 18-21, 21-15.