Malaysian pair win Mexico City Grand Prix title
PETALING JAYA: Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying came good again to end the season on a high.
The Malaysian No. 1 exacted sweet revenge over South Korea’s world No. 14 Choi Sol-gyu-Eom Hye-won with a convincing 21-14, 21-12 win in the mixed doubles final at the Mexico City Grand Prix badminton championships on Sunday.
It was the third title of the season for world No. 17 Peng Soon-Liu Ying, who were beaten by the Koreans in the quarter-finals at the US Grand Prix last week. Earlier, Peng Soon-Liu Ying were victorious at the Polish Open in March and the Russian Open in July.
“We were better prepared this time because we didn’t want to lose to the Koreans twice in a row,” said Liu Ying.
“We analysed our previous loss in the US to prepare ourselves mentally. We definitely played well today.
“It’s definitely a good way to end the season and it puts us in a good position for the Rio de Janeiro Olympics next year,” added Liu Ying.
Liu Ying-Peng Soon are now ranked 17th in the Olympic qualifying race. They should move up to the top 16 in the next rankings list.
“Hopefully we’ll keep up our performance next year by winning a Superseries title and secure our Olympic ticket,” said Liu Ying.
Liu Ying-Peng Soon will take a short break before returning to court to prepare for the Malaysian Open Grand Prix in Penang from Jan 19-24.
In the other results in Mexico City, South Korea’s Lee Dong-keun clinched the men’s singles crown by beating Thailand’s Pannawit Thongnuam 19-21, 21-13, 21-12.
India’s Manu Attri-B. Sumeeth Reddy emerged as the men’s doubles champions after a 22-20, 21-18 win over Thailand’s Bodin Issara-Nipitphon Puangpuapech.
Japan were the biggest winners, bagging the women’s singles through Sayaka Sato while Shizuka Matsuo-Mami Naito were triumphant in the women’s doubles.
RESULTS
Men’s singles: Sayaka Sato (Jpn) bt Bae Eon-ju (Kor) 21-15, 21-9.
Men’s doubles: Manu Attri-B. Sumeeth Reddy (Ind) bt Bodin Issara-Nipitphon Puangpuapech (Tha) 22-20, 21-18.
Women’s singles: Lee Dong-keun (Kor) bt Pannawit Thongnuam (Tha) 19-21, 21-13, 21-12.
Women’s doubles: Shizuka Matsuo-Mami Naito (Jpn) Puttita Supajirakul-Sapsiree Taerattanachai (Tha) 21-17, 16-21, 21-10.
Mixed doubles: Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying (Mas) bt Choi Sol-gyu-Eom Hye-won (Kor) 21-14, 21-12.
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