Han Yue of China reacts after scoring a point in the women's singles final against Putri Kusuma Wardani of Indonesia at the Hong Kong Open in south China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, September 15, 2024. /CFP
Chinese badminton players won two of the five finals at the Hong Kong Open that ended on Sunday in south China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
No. 3 seed Han Yue of China defeated Putri Kusuma Wardani of Indonesia 21-18, 21-7 in the women's singles final to secure the gold medal. The last Chinese winner of the event was Chen Yufei in 2019.
"It was not easy at all," Han told reporters. "She created many challenges for me. Fortunately, I was well-prepared for the final."
Two Chinese pairs faced each other in the mixed doubles final. Second-seeded Jiang Zhenbang and Wei Yaxin beat top seeds Feng Yanzhe and Huang Dongping 21-19, 21-19. Wei won this event last year as well when she paired with Guo Xinwa.
Viktor Axelsen of Denmark competes in the men's singles final against Lei Lanxi of China at the Hong Kong Open in south China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, September 15, 2024. /CFP
China's Lei Lanxi challenged the 2024 Paris Olympic gold medalist Viktor Axelsen of Denmark in the men's singles final. Axelsen claimed the final victory 21-9, 21-12, standing on the top of podium for the first time at the Hong Kong Open.
"I am very happy. I am very lucky," Axelsen said. "I have won many championships, but this is my first in Hong Kong. I have been under a lot of pressure because I didn't get enough training after the Olympic Games. Therefore, I am quite surprised to find that I can still perform at such a high level."
Kang Min-hyuk and Seo Seung-jae of South Korea beat Sabar Karyaman Gutama and Muhammad Reza Pahlevi Isfahani of Indonesia 21-13, 21-17 to win the men’s doubles gold.
The women's doubles title went to Pearly Tan and Thinaah Muralitharan of Malaysia after their 21-14, 21-14 victory over Chinese pair Liu Shengshu and Tan Ning.