Yamaguchi Akane of Japan poses after the awarding ceremony of women's singles final at Hong Kong Open 2023 badminton tournament on Sept 17, 2023. (PHOTO / XINHUA)
HONG KONG - Japan's Yamaguchi Akane claimed women's singles title at Hong Kong Open 2023 on Sunday, while Guo Xinwa and Wei Yaxin of China were crowned mixed doubles champions as Team China capped off with one gold and one silver.
Despite pairing up for the first time, Guo and Wei brought surprises to many, as they set up a final clash against Tang Chun-man and Tse Ying-suet of Hong Kong, China.
Guo and Wei took the first game 21-13, before continuing their form to get match point at 20-17 in the second. Although Tang and Tse pulled two points back, a howler allowed Guo and Wei to claim the title.
"It is a surprise for us to win the title in our first appearance as a pair, and we will move on step by step," said Wei.
China's Zhang Yiman lost to top seed Akane Yamaguchi of Japan 21-18, 21-15 in the women's singles final.
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"I am satisfied with my performance by showing what I've got in training. I will carry on and start from scratch," Zhang noted.
Also on Sunday, Jonatan Christie of Indonesia won the men's singles by rallying past Japan's Kenta Nishimoto 12-21, 22-20, 21-18, while his compatriots Apriyani Rahayu and Siti Fadia Silva Ramadhanti took the women's doubles title. Kim Astrup and Anders Skaarup Rasmussen of Denmark triumphed in the men's doubles.
Yamaguchi Akane of Japan hits a return during the women's singles final against Zhang Yiman (not in photograph) of China
at Hong Kong Open 2023 badminton tournament on Sept 17, 2023. (PHOTO / XINHUA)
Zhang Yiman of China hits a return during the women's singles final against Yamaguchi Akane (not in photograph) of Japan at Hong Kong Open 2023 badminton tournament on Sept 17, 2023. (PHOTO / XINHUA)
Yamaguchi Akane of Japan hits a return during the women's singles final against Zhang Yiman (not in photograph) of China at Hong Kong Open 2023 badminton tournament on Sept 17, 2023. (PHOTO / XINHUA)
Zhang Yiman of China hits a return during the women's singles final against Yamaguchi Akane (not in photograph) of Japan at Hong Kong Open 2023 badminton tournament on Sept 17, 2023. (PHOTO / XINHUA)
Guo Xinwa (second right)/Wei Yaxin (first right) of China pose with Tang Chun-man (first left)/Tse Ying-suet of China's Hong Kong after the awarding ceremony of the mixed doubles final at Hong Kong Open 2023 badminton tournament on Sept 17, 2023. (PHOTO / XINHUA)
Tang Chun-man (left)/Tse Ying-suet of China's Hong Kong compete during the mixed doubles final against Guo Xinwa/Wei Yaxin (not in photograph) of China at Hong Kong Open 2023 badminton tournament on Sept 17, 2023. (PHOTO / XINHUA)
Guo Xinwa (top)/Wei Yaxin of China compete during the mixed doubles final against Tang Chun-man/Tse Ying-suet (not in photograph) of China's Hong Kong at Hong Kong Open 2023 badminton tournament on Sept 17, 2023. (PHOTO / XINHUA)
Winners Apriyani Rahayu (right)/Siti Fadia Silva Ramadhanti of Indonesia pose after the awarding ceremony of the women's doubles final at Hong Kong Open 2023 badminton tournament on Sept 17, 2023. (PHOTO / XINHUA)
Apriyani Rahayu/Siti Fadia Silva Ramadhanti (right) of Indonesia compete during the women's doubles final against Pearly Tan/Muralitharan Thinaah (not in photograph) of Malaysia at Hong Kong Open 2023 badminton tournament on Sept 17, 2023. (PHOTO / XINHUA)
Apriyani Rahayu/Siti Fadia Silva Ramadhanti (right) of Indonesia compete during the women's doubles final against Pearly Tan/Muralitharan Thinaah (not in photograph) of Malaysia at Hong Kong Open 2023 badminton tournament on Sept 17, 2023. (PHOTO / XINHUA)
Apriyani Rahayu/Siti Fadia Silva Ramadhanti (right) of Indonesia celebrate winning the women's doubles final against Pearly Tan/Muralitharan Thinaah of Malaysia at Hong Kong Open 2023 badminton tournament on Sept 17, 2023. (PHOTO / XINHUA)
