Kumamoto Masters Japan 2024: Singles triumphs for Yamaguchi Akane and Li Shifeng
Two-time world champion Yamaguchi claimed her second title of 2024 on home soil after Li ended Leong Jun Hao's superb run in straight games.
Badminton
Yamaguchi Akane returned to winning ways at the Kumamoto Masters Japan 2024 on Sunday (17 November).
Having won the Japan Open in Yokohama in August, the 27-year-old clinched her second title of an injury-disrupted year - again in front of her home fans - by defeating Indonesia's defending champion Gregoria Mariska Tunjung 21-12, 21-12.
A hip injury sustained in March hindered Yamaguchi's season with the two-time world champion going out in the quarter-finals at the Olympic Games Paris 2024, which was won by her long-time rival An Se-young.
Wearing strapping on her left knee, Olympic bronze medallist Tunjung made a number of errors early on, with Yamaguchi not having to be at her best to take an 11-5 lead into the mid-game interval.
The Japanese moved further clear after the break, showing off her trademark speed and anticipation to go 18-8 ahead before converting her third game point after just 14 minutes.
Tunjung, bidding for her first title since her triumph in Kumamoto 12 months ago, went into a 3-0 lead in the second game. But the home favourite reeled off the next six points in succession to regain the initiative.
Despite flashes of brilliance from the fifth seed, Yamaguchi was able to take an 11-8 advantage into the second mid-game interval before winning seven of the last eight points to seal her 15th victory over Tunjung in 20 meetings.
With Tunjung all but guaranteed a place in the season-ending BWF Tour Finals in Hangzhou, Yamaguchi's title saw her move above compatriot Miyazaki Tomoka into sixth in the race to the tournament.
Li Shifeng brushes aside Leong Jun Hao for first title of 2024
Earlier, Li Shifeng defeated unseeded Malaysian Leong Jun Hao 21-10, 21-13 to claim his first title since the US Open in July 2023.
Leong had enjoyed a spectacular week, reaching his first-ever Super 500 final and his first World Tour final since the 2018 Thailand Masters. The 25-year-old had done it the hard way, winning all four of his matches in three games, including a gruelling encounter with Jonatan Christie on Saturday.
Li had won the pair's previous three meetings in straight games and raced into an early 6-1 lead with Leong - already sporting hefty strapping on both legs - taking a medical timeout for a grazed finger.
The 27-year-old from People's Republic of China, who beat Olympic champion Viktor Axelsen in the semi-finals, won the battle for superiority at the net and stayed clear to take the opening game.
Leong staged something of a fightback at the start of the second, going into a 5-2 lead. However, the tank was all but empty with Li's tactical prowess seeing him win 14 of the next 16 points on his way to a victory that boosts his hopes of making the BWF Tour Finals on home soil.
That was China's second title of the day after Olympic women's doubles silver medallists Liu Shengshu and Tan Ning eased past home pair Fukushima Yuki and Matsumoto Mayu 21-15, 21-5 for their fifth title of the year.
In just their third tournament as a pairing, Thailand's Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Supissara Paewsampran won their first BWF World Tour title by beating France's mixed doubles champions Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue 21-17 in the deciding game.
The men's doubles final was also close with Indonesia's third seeds Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Rian Ardianto getting the better of Japan's Hoki Takuro and Kobayashi Yugo 21-17 in the third.
Results from the finals of the BWF Kumamoto Masters Japan, 17 November 2024:
Mixed doubles: Thom Gicquel/Delphine Delrue (FRA) lost to Dechapol Puavaranukroh/Supissara Paewsampran (THA) 16-21, 21-10, 17-21
Women's doubles: Fukushima Yuki/Matsumoto Mayu (JPN) lost to [2] Liu Shengshu/Tan Ning (CHN) 15-21, 5-21
Men's doubles: [3] Fajar Alfian/Muhammad Rian Ardianto (INA) def. [6] Hoki Takuro/Kobayashi Yugo (JPN) 21-15, 17-21, 21-17
Men's singles: [7] Li Shifeng (CHN) def. Leong Jun Hao (MAS) 21-10, 21-13
Women's singles: [5] Gregoria Mariska Tunjung (INA) lost to [2] Yamaguchi Akane (JPN) 12-21, 12-21