China claim two golds at Hong Kong Open

Chen Yufei wins the women's singles titles at BWF Fuzhou China Open, her fifth title of the year, earlier this month, November 10, 2019. /VCG Photo

Chen Yufei of China beat Thailand's Ratchanok Intanon 21-18, 13-21, and 21-13 at the Hong Kong Open, storming to her sixth title this year.

This also marks Chen's fourth straight victory against Intanon in 2019. They have played each other 13 times overall, with Chen winning 11 times.

Chen took a 9-3 lead in the opening set, but Intanon managed to cut the deficit at 19-18, minimizing the gap to just a point. Chen, however, won the first set by 21-18, winning the last two points in a row.

Ratchanok Intanon of Thailand in action during the women's singles quarter-finals in Hong Kong Open, HKSAR, China, November 15, 2019. /VCG Photo

Intanon made a comeback in the second set, winning five points in a row to maintain the advantage, storming to 21-13.

In the final set, Chen scored six points in a row after falling short 4-6 and made a changeover. She then went on to win the set 21-13.

When asked before the final who would she rather play, Intanon or Japan's Akane Yamaguchi, Chen said humbly, "They are both good. Whoever I'm playing against, I need to give my best effort and leave no regret for myself. This is my first time in the finals of the Hong Kong Open. I'm a bit tired. I hope I deliver good performance."

Jia Yifan (L) and Chen Qingchen (R) of China compete in the women's doubles semi finals match at Fuzhou China Open, November 9, 2019, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, China. /VCG Photo

In women's double, China's Chen Qingchen and Jia Yifan beat Chang Ye-na and Kim Hye-rin of South Korea by 21-11, 13-21, and 21-15.

When the Chinese players took the lead at 11-8 in the first set, they kept the advantage by gaining four points straight and won the first set.

The South Korean players made a come-back in the second set. China minimized the gap to two points short of the opposing team, but still couldn’t turn it around and lost the second set by 13-21.

Chen Qingchen and Jia Yifan had a good opening in the third set, leading by 7-3, and won by 21-15.

In men's doubles finals, Choi Sol-gyu and Seo Seung-jae of South Korea won Mohammad Ahsan and Hendra Setiawan of Indonesia by 13-21, 21-12, and 21-13.