An Seyoung, the Paris 2024 Olympic badminton champion and World No. 1 in women’s singles, has added a third consecutive Malaysia Open title to her collection after beating World No. 2 Wang Zhiyi 21-15, 24-22 in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday, according to Olympics.com.
The Republic of Korea shuttler is now only the fourth player to win three consecutive titles at the prestigious event, but had to fend off the increasingly competitive rising star from People’s Republic of China in a closely fought second set in which An fought back from an 18-11 deficit.
Wang, a silver medallist at the Buenos Aires 2018 Summer Youth Olympic Games, continues to impress, having beaten two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu of India in the semifinal on Saturday.
In the men’s competition, the Olympic silver medallist from France, Thailand’s Kunlavut Vitidsarn claimed his first Super 1000 title after China’s reigning world champion Shi Yuqi retired due to injury early in the second set, having lost the first 23-21.
In the women’s doubles, Shi’s compatriots and Paris 2024 Olympic silver medallists Liu Sheng Shu and Tan Ning defeated Republic of Korea’s Baek Hana and Lee So Hee 21-18, 21-12, while in the reciprocal men’s event Kim Won Ho, also a silver medallist in France, and Seo Seungjae of Republic of Korea beat two-time Olympic bronze medallists Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik of Malaysia 21-15, 12-21, 21-18 in the only tie that went to three sets on finals day.
The mixed doubles saw a Chinese showdown with Feng Yan Zhe and her Tokyo 2020 Olympic gold medallist partner Huang Dong Ping coming out on top against world silver medallists last year Jiang Zhenbang and Wei Yaxin 21-19, 21-19.
Results (finals): Women’s singles: An Seyoung (KOR) beat Wang Zhiyi (CHN) 21-15, 24-22. Doubles: Liu Sheng Shu/ Tan Ning (CHN) beat Baek Hana/ Lee So Hee (KOR) 21-18, 21-12.
Men’s singles: Kunlavut Vitidsarn (THA) beat Shi Yuqi (CHN) 21-23, 1-6 (RETD). Doubles: Kim Won Ho/ Seo Seungjae (KOR) beat Aaron Chia/ Soh Wooi Yik (MAS) 21-15, 12-21, 21-18.
Mixed doubles: Feng Yan Zhe/ Huang Dongping (CHN) beat Jiang Zhenbang/ Wei Yaxin (CHN) 21-19, 21-19.
