Lee Zii Jia wins the All England title, Japanese teams on top of all doubles

Lee Zii Jia defeated Axelsen

Lee Zii Jia defeated defending champion Viktor Axelsen in a grueling match to clinch the All England Open title, 30-29, 20-22, 21-9. The 22-year-old is the first Malaysian to win the All England Open since Lee Chong Wei in 2017. It was a huge win for him, reflected in his winning cheer after clinching the match winning point.

The victory is only his second World Tour title after winning the 2018 Chinese Taipei Open. Lee Zii Jia said: "For me, I think both of us played very well until the third game, when Axelsen lost a bit of focus and that's the moment I had the advantage. In the first game at 30-29 it was already a very tough game, and coming into the second game I had to focus on every single point. I couldn't afford to lose focus on the points, otherwise my opponent would have taken advantage of it. This is what I told myself: 'focus on every point'."

"I think Lee (Zii Jia) was the rightful winner today so I want to congratulate him. It was a crazy match, really close. The first game was pretty crucial I think, I used a lot of energy and should probably have won if I wanted to take the title today. I think Lee Zii Jia played well in the crucial points today, and I was a little too sloppy at times. Unfortunately I've spent quite a bit of energy this week playing long matches, and it took its toll a little bit," reacted Viktor Axelsen.

OKUHARA wins her second All England title

In the women's singles 23-year-old Thai riser Pornpawee Chochuwong, who beat Indian word champion PV Sindhu to make her first All England final, could not find a way around OKUHARA Nozomi as the 2017 world champion snatched victory in straight sets.

The Japanese player defeated Thailand’s Pornpawee Chochuwong, 21-12, 21-16. Okuhara, who was playing her third Thai player in three days, looked in complete control throughout the match and needed only two games to clinch victory.

With all three doubles matches being an all-Japanese affair, the win means that Japan wins four of the five titles on offer at the All England. It is the second All England Open title for the 26-year-old, who last won it in 2016. It is also the second title for the Rio 2016 bronze medallist in the two World Tour tournaments she has participated in since the resumption of play following the global pandemic. It certainly bodes well for her Olympic aspirations.

"I'm very happy to be the All England champion again! I wanted to play the same in this final as in my other matches, but I wanted to play my shots to the back higher which worked very well. It's her (Pornpawee Chochuwong) first time in the final of the All England, I think she felt a little bit of pressure," said Okuhara after the match.

"Five years ago I won here and there was no pressure, this time I'm in the top five players in women's singles so that changed things. But my overall play is now at a higher level so I am very happy," she added.

Japan wins all doubles

Meanwhile Japan were always guaranteed all three doubles titles but WATANABE Yuta managed to clinch both the men's and mixed doubles titles, proving that he is truly capable of gunning for both events.

The defending champion ENDO Hiroyuki and Watanabe Yuta prevailed and clinched the men's double 21-15, 17-21, 21-11 against KAMURA Takeshi and SONODA Keigo.

Endo and Watanabe created history by becoming the first-ever men’s doubles pair from Japan to clinch the prestigious All England open title last year, now they become the first pair to win back-to-back titles.

Superman Watanabe

Watanabe and HIGASHINO Arisa clinched the mixed doubles title, as the former completed the doubles double.

The number two seeds picked up their sixth international tour title, defeating new pairing of KANEKO Yuki and MATSUTOMO Misaki 21-14, 21-13. It's the second time Watanabe and Higashino have clinched the Super 1000 title having won the tournament in 2018.

Watching him on court, you would not have believed that Watanabe had already played one final at the start of the day. The 23-year-old was full of energy and was oozing confidence on court as he became the first male player in 19 years to win the doubles double at the All England Open championships. South Korea's Kim Dong Moon last did it in 2002 and before that in 2000.

More firepower

In the women's double final, NAGAHARA Wakana and MATSUMOTO Mayu won the title, defeating defending champions FUKUSHIMA Yuki and HIROTA Sayaka 21-18, 21- 16.

The two-time world champions showed they had more firepower in reserve and built on their mid-game advantage in the second game to seal the title in straight sets. Fukushima and Hirota put on a great display in a match that lasted 55 minutes.

The reigning world champions added a maiden Super 1000 title to their growing list of achievements.

By the Olympic Channel.