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Agence France-Presse

SCMP Sport

Gregoria Mariska Tunjung made history for Indonesia on Sunday by defeating China’s Chen Yufei in the inaugural Kumamoto Masters women’s final.
The 21-12, 21-12 win in Japan gave the sixth seed her second title on the Badminton World Tour, following her triumph at the Spain Masters in April.
She also became the first Indonesian women’s singles player to win a Super Series or World Tour Super 500 or above title.
Third seed Chen, the Tokyo Olympics champion, had ended South Korean top seed An Se-young’s 31-match unbeaten streak in the semi-finals.
But Tunjung said she “just tried my best to win every single point”.

#KumamotoMasters2023 - Women's Singles
🥇Gregoria Mariska Tunjung (INA)
🥈Chen Yufei (CHN)
Congratulations to both players! pic.twitter.com/CJJYZPv4sP
— Badminton Talk (@BadmintonTalk) November 19, 2023

“The key to the win today was my patience,” said the 24-year-old, who is ranked No 7 in the world.
“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.”
Men’s world No 1 Viktor Axelsen won his first title since September on Sunday in Japan but said he was “not feeling great” heading into the season’s final stretch.
The dominant Dane, who is set to celebrate two unbroken years atop the world rankings on December 1, beat China’s Shi Yuqi 22-20, 21-17 to capture the men’s title.
Axelsen said he was determined to celebrate his first success on the tour since the China Open and was putting the upcoming China Masters to the back of his mind for the moment.
“Going into the China Masters, I’m not feeling great, I’m very tired, I don’t want to think about it,” he told the Badminton World Federation.
“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.”

#KumamotoMasters2023 - Men's Singles
🥇Viktor Axelsen (DEN)
🥈Shi Yuqi (CHN)
Congratulations to both players! pic.twitter.com/sk829veEFY
— Badminton Talk (@BadmintonTalk) November 19, 2023

Axelsen said he would “enjoy an extra piece” of sushi after beating number four seed Shi.
The Dane was also appearing in his first final since the China Open and he said he was happy with his performance in a match “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.”
Hong Kong pair Tang and Tse end 4-year wait for badminton title
The three doubles finals were all contested by Chinese players.
Top mixed doubles seeds Zheng Siwei and Huang Yaqiong beat number three pair Feng Yanzhe and Huang Dongping 25-23, 21-9.
In women’s doubles, number 3 seeds Zhang Shuxian and Zheng Yu beat Liu Shengshu and Tan Ning 12-21, 21-12, 21-17.
And in men’s doubles, He Jiting and Ren Xiangyu got the better of Liu Yuchen and Ou Xuanyi 21-14, 15-21, 21-15.


Chinese Olympic gold medallist Zheng Siwei retires at 27, says titles ‘hold little appeal’

Olympic badminton champion Axelsen wins maiden Hong Kong Open title, Han takes women’s crown

Olympians Viktor Axelsen, Loh Kean Yew offer guidance to Hong Kong youth on sports careers

BWF World Tour: Indonesian Ginting is biggest test yet for Jason Gunawan at Hong Kong Open

Badminton World Federation (BWF)

Kumamoto Masters: Gregoria Mariska Tunjung makes history for Indonesia, ‘tired’ Viktor Axelsen wins first title since September

Gregoria Mariska Tunjung (left) celebrates winning the Kumamoto Masters title in Japan. Photo: X/@BadmintonTalk


Hong Kong pair Tang and Tse end 4-year wait for badminton mixed doubles title, eye World Tour Finals place

Tang Chun-Man and Tse Ying-suet have won their first tournament since the Korea Masters in 2019. Photo: Elson Li

Asian Para Games: swimmer Chan Yui-lam smashes record twice en route to gold for Hong Kong

Chan Yui-lam of Hong Kong celebrates her women’s 100 metres butterfly S14 gold. Photo: China Hong Kong Paralympic Committee

Chan Yui-lam on her way to gold at the Asian Para Games. Photo: China Hong Kong Paralympic Committee

Asian Games 2023: South Korea’s An Se-young wins badminton gold to deny China’s Chen Yufei as both limp off court

An Se-young of South Korea is exhausted after clinching women’s singles badminton gold in Hangzhou. Photo: Xinhua

An Se-young receives medial treatment during the first game. Photo: Xinhua

China’s Chen Yufei dives for a shot against South Korea’s An Se-young. Photo: AP

Li Shifeng (right) shakes hands with teammate Shi Yuqi after their men’s singles final. Photo: Xinhua

Spirit of Hong Kong Award: badminton player beats cancer as a child to compete as para athlete

Calista Lam underwent 28 rounds of chemotherapy. Photo: Handout

Calista Lam says overcoming challenges has made her stronger. Photo: Calista Lam Tsz-huen

Winning is a “memorable experience” for Calista Lam. Photo: Handout

Sport

Other Sport

Tunjung defeats Olympic champion Chen Yufei 21-12, 21-12 in Sunday’s women’s singles final
World No 1 Axelsen beats Shi Yuqi 22-20, 21-17 to win men’s title but says he is ‘not feeling great’ for China Masters


Gregoria Mariska Tunjung triumphs in Kumamoto Masters women’s final, as ‘tired’ world No 1 Viktor Axelsen wins his first title since September.


Shi Yuqi

Chen Yufei

Zheng Siwei

Kumamoto Masters: Gregoria Mariska Tunjung makes history for Indonesia, ‘tired’ Viktor Axelsen wins first title since September

Tunjung defeats Olympic champion Chen Yufei 21-12, 21-12 in Sunday’s women’s singles final World No 1 Axelsen beats Shi Yuqi 22-20, 21-17 to win men’s title but says he is ‘not feeling great’ for China Masters

Tunjung defeats Olympic champion Chen Yufei 21-12, 21-12 in Sunday’s women’s singles final

World No 1 Axelsen beats Shi Yuqi 22-20, 21-17 to win men’s title but says he is ‘not feeling great’ for China Masters