Fuzhou: Kento Momota won his 10th title of a remarkable year as Japan's world No.1 defeated Chou Tien-chen to retain his Fuzhou China Open crown in a thriller yesterday.
Home hope Chen Yufei also successfully retained the women's title with a gritty victory over Japan's Nozomi Okuhara at the US$700,000 BWF World Tour Super 750 event.
Two-time reigning world champion Momota battled past Taiwan's world No.2 Chou, needing an hour and 23 minutes to win 21-15, 17-21, 21-18 in a repeat of last year's final.
The 29-year-old Taiwanese is in the unusual position of not having a coach and instead relying on his longtime physio to guide him courtside during matches.
Chou saved one match point but handed Momota the title by hitting a shot into the net, the Japanese player falling onto his back and screaming in joy with his fists clenched.
The peerless Momota, 25, is having another hugely successful year, his haul of titles in 2019 including a successful defence of the world crown and the prestigious All England Open.
The women's final was a gruelling affair as well and went the full distance.
China's Chen lost the first game 21-9 to Okuhara but recovered to lift the China Open crown for the second year in a row by winning the next two 21-12, 21-18.
It was more disappointment for Okuhara, who has now lost all six finals she has contested this year.
Top-ranked Marcus Gideon and Kevin Sukamuljo of Indonesia also captured back-to-back titles after cruising past Japan's Takeshi Kamura and Keigo Sonoda 21-17, 21-9 in the men's doubles showdown.
The women's doubles crown went to Japan's Yuki Fukushima and Sayaka Hirota, who beat defending champions Lee So-Hee and Shin Seung-Chan of South Korea 21-17, 21-15.
Wang Yilyu and Huang Dongping upset world No.1 pair Zheng Siwei and Huang Yaqiong 21-14, 21-13 in an all-Chinese mixed doubles final. afp/bangkok post