Viktor Axelsen, badminton world number one, won his first title since September in Japan. However, he said he was “not feeling great” going forward.
The Dane defeated China’s Shi Yuqi 22-20, 21-17 to clinch the Kumamoto Masters title, asserting his dominance.
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Axelsen revealed, “Going into the China Masters, I’m not feeling great, I’m very tired, I don’t want to think about it.”
He added, “I have a rule that when you play a final and you’re done, you have to enjoy it so I’m not thinking about next week at all.”
Axelsen mentioned that he would “enjoy an extra piece” of sushi after his victory.
He expressed his satisfaction with the final, which he described as “played at a really high level.”
“Shi is a very strong opponent and I think if he had managed to win the first game, it could have gone either way today,” he said.
“I was really happy with how composed I stayed, especially at the end of both games.”
In the women’s final, Indonesia’s Gregoria Mariska Tunjung defeated China’s Chen Yufei 21-12, 21-12 to win her second world tour title.
The victory marked a significant achievement for Tunjung, who highlighted her patience as the key to the win.
Number three seed Chen, the Tokyo Olympics champion, had ended South Korean top seed An Se-young’s 31-match unbeaten streak in the semi-finals.
Tunjung credited her success to her patience and her ability to counter her opponent’s moves.
“Chen Yufei also made a few mistakes and that helped me believe in myself more and believe that I could counter anything she threw at me,” Tunjung said.
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Axelsen’s victory and Tunjung’s triumph were the highlights of the Kumamoto Masters, showcasing top-level badminton action.
Additionally, all three doubles finals at the event were contested by Chinese players, demonstrating China’s prowess in the sport.
It was a day of top-notch badminton that enthralled fans and highlighted the skill and determination of the players.