Son Wan Ho (R) of South Korea, Chen Long (L) of China and Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia pose on the awarding ceremony after the Malaysia Masters 2019 men's singles final in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Jan. 20, 2019. Son Wan Ho won 2-0 and claimed the title. (Xinhua/Chong Voon Chung)
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's Son Wan Ho defeated China's Olympic champion Chen Long in the men's singles finals of the 2019 Malaysia Masters badminton tournament on Sunday.
Son defeated Chen 21-17, 21-19 after making comeback in both sets as the Chinese shuttler failed to hold on to early lead.
"I did well at the beginning in both sets but maybe my opponent did better in the middle part of the sets," said Chen after the match. "I think I played pretty well as this is my first tournament of the year."
Malaysia's legend Lee Chong Wei, who is recovering after a cancer last year, made a surprising appearance at the award ceremony.
"He seems to be in good spirit," said Chen. "I told him that I am looking forward to seeing him at the Malaysia Open in April."
The women's singles final saw Thailand's Ratchanok Intanon beat Spaniard Carolina Marin 21-9, 22-20 despite the latter's huge effort during the second game.
Japanese Yuta Watanabe and Arisa Higashino handily beat their Thai opponents Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Sapsiree Taerattanachai 21-18, 21-18 to win the mixed doubles title.
Japan also came out on top at the women's doubles with world No.1 Yuki Fukushima and Sayaka Hirota edged off Indonesia's Greysia Polii and Apriyani Rahayu 18-21, 21-16 and 21-16.
Indonesia's Marcus Fernaldi Gideon and Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo dashed the hope of the home fans, delivering a heavy blow to their Malaysian opponents Ong Yew Sin and Teo Ee Yi to win the men's doubles by 21-15, 21-16.
