KUALA LUMPUR: Denmark's Viktor Axelsen today claimed his first title on the rebranded Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Tour — the men’s singles in the Malaysia Masters in Bukit Jalil.
The 24-year-old world champion, however, did not have it easy, having to overcome the tricky draught at the Axiata Arena, before seeing off Japan's Kenta Nishimoto 21-13, 21-23, 21-18 in a match that lasted more than an hour.
"The situation today was very tricky, especially with the draught. I've faced some upsets in the past under conditions like this," said Axelsen, who pocketed US$26,250 (approximately RM104,000) for his win.
"In fact playing Kenta today was not easy. He defeated Lee Chong Wei on his home soil in the first round, so it was never going to be easy.
"I am just happy to have stayed in the match and won the Malaysia Masters."
On his plans this year, the World No 1 said: "I will have to wait and see how I feel before deciding on my next tournament. Of course one of my targets this year is the All England, so I will see how my body feels."
In the women's singles, former world champion (2013) Ratchanok Intanon of Thailand staged a superb comeback in the third game to upset top seed and World No 1 Tai Tzu Ying of Taiwan 21-16, 14-21, 24-22, for her first title this season.
"It is always a tight match when we play, but I believe that our standard is about the same. Sometimes I win, sometimes I lose.
"Today I was a little calmer than her in the decider. I told myself I cannot lose this one," said Ratchanok, who also pocketed US$26,250.
Like Axelsen, the Thai World No 5 also has her eyes on the All England, apart from trying to come good at the World Championships (Nanjing), Asian Games (Jakarta) and Uber Cup in Bangkok, in May.
In the mixed doubles final, Hong Kong's left-handed pair Tang Chun Man-Tse Ying Suet beat China's Zheng Siwei-Huang Yaqiong, while in women's doubles, Danish duo Kamilla Rytter Juhl-Christinna Pedersen upset World No 1 Chen Qingchen-Jia Yifan 22-20, 21-18.
FINAL RESULTS
Men's singles: Viktor Axelsen (Den) bt Kenta Nishimoto (Jpn) 21-13, 21-23, 21-18;
Doubles: Fajar Alfian-Muhammad Rian Ardianto (Ina) bt Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong 14-21, 24-22, 21-13;
Women's singles: Ratchanok Intanon (Tha) bt Tai Tzu Ying (Tai) 21-16, 14-21, 24-22;
Doubles: Kamilla Rytter Juhl-Christinna Pedersen (Den) bt Chen Qingchen-Jia Yifan (Chn) 22-20, 21-18;
Mixed doubles: Tang Chun Man-Tse Ying Suet (Hkg) bt Zheng Siwei-Huang Yaqiong (Chn) 19-21, 22-20, 21-18