Macau: Sunday was a memorable milestone for Kento Momota, who just won his fifth title of the year at Macau Open and his first Grand Prix Gold tournament since his ban for illegal gambling was lifted in May.
Playing against Ihsan Maulana Mustofa of Indonesia in the final, Momota had some trouble returning Mustofa’s strong forehand smashes in the first set before he prevailed with 21-16. Momota delivered a stunning reminder of his class as he set off a 9-0 huge lead in the second set to dismantle the Indonesian with a crushing 21-10 victory in the second game and to win the Macau Open men’s singles title at the Tap Seac Multisport Pavilion.
In women’s singles, China’s 17-year-old Cai Yanyan took the first game 21-15 to make a strong start to her battle with Chinese Taipei’s Pai Yu Po in the women’s singles final. Pai was able to force the decider by winning the second set 21-17.
Nevertheless, the 17-year-old Cai was in ominously good form in the decider, playing at her aggressive best through cross-court smashes to tame the Taiwanese 21-16 and picked up the biggest title of her young career.
Meanwhile, China’s Huang Yaqiong enjoyed double victories on Sunday as she and Zheng Siwei recorded a 21-14, 21-11 win against Korea’s Kim Ha Na and Seung Jae Seo in the mixed doubles final. This was Huang/Zheng’s first triumph in the mixed doubles competition after splitting up with their original partners.
Huang Yaqiong returned to the court later in the day, partnering with Yu Xiaohan to see off Korea’s Baek Ha Na and Lee Yu Rim 21-10, 21-17 in the women’s doubles final.
The Indonesia men’s doubles pair of Wahyu Nayaka Arya Pangkaryanira/Ade Yusuf Santoso made up for Indonesia’s disappointment in the men’s singles final when they outlasted Kim Won Ho/Seo Seung Jae of Korea 21-13, 21-14 in 36 minutes.
