( Credit Image goes to Djarum )
Winning the women's singles title in this year's Far East Victor Malaysia Masters in Sibu, Sarawak, would have been the perfect 19th birthday present for Thailand's Pornpawee Chochuwong on Sunday.
However, it was not to be and Pornpawee (Image above)will remember her birthday for the heartbreaking 20-22, 20-22 defeat in 46 minutes to India's former world No 1 and top seed Saina Nehwal in the women's singles final at the Sibu Indoor Stadium.
The 26-year-old Nehwal rode on her vast international experience at the highest level, including the Olympics, to pull herself out of deep waters on several occasions against the hard hitting Thai to take the title and pocket USD9,000 in prize money.
The unseeded Pornpawee, who knocked out second seed Cheung Ngan Yi of Hong Kong in the semi-finals on Saturday was a figure of dejection on rostrum. She consoled herself with USD4,560 for her efforts, knowing that she gave her best that was not good enough for the title.
It was a solid performance from Nehwal who has set her sights on the world championships to be held in Glasgow in August to make up for the disappointment at the Rio Olympics where she failed to make the quarter-finals after picking up a knee injury which needed surgery.
Winning the Malaysia Masters on her comeback trail in competitive badminton is a good start for Nehwal in 2017.
There was drama in the men's singles final when Korea's veteran Lee Hyun Il was forced to retire after 49 minutes due to a self-inflicted injury which left him with a swollen left eye.
Hyun-Il accidentally hit his eye with his racquet while attempting to return the shuttle in the third set and went down clutching his face in pain. After receiving medical treatment on the court the Korean threw in the towel with the score at 14-21, 21-15, 10-9 in favour of top seed Angus Ng Ka Long of Hong Kong.
The match was evenly poised with the fifth seeded Hyun-Il very much in the running for the title before the unfortunate incident. Ka Long took home USD9,000 in prize money while the loser settled for USD4,560,
Indonesian youngsters Berry Angriawan-Hardianto Hardianto broke the hearts of the Malaysian supporters with a 21-19, 21-12 win over Goh Sze Fei-Izzuddin Rumsani in a 44 minute thriller.
Malaysia, however, bagged the mixed doubles title with second seeds Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing defeating compatriots Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie 21-17, 21-9 for their first title of this year.
The win made up for Kian Meng-Pei Jing's defeat in final to a Chinese pair in the same tournament which was held in Penang.
Thailand's top seeds Jongkolphan Kititharakul-Rawinda Prajongjai lived up to the billing as the top seeds to win the women's doubles title as they downed Hong Kong's Poon Lok Yan-Tze Ying Suet 21-17, 21-9 in a 33-minute final.
RESULTS (All Finals)
Men's singles
Angus Ng Ka Long (Hkg) beat Lee Hyun-Il (Kor) 14-21, 21-15, 10-9 (rtd)
Men's doubles
Berry Angriawan-Hardianto Hardianto (Ina) beat Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin (Mas) 21-19, 21-12
Women's singles
Saina Nehwal (Ind) beat Pornpawee Chochuwong (Tha) 22-20, 22-20
Women's doubles
Jongkolphan Kititharakul-Rawinda Prajongjai (Tha) beat Poon Lok Yan-Tse Ying Suet (Hkg) 21-17, 21-9
Mixed doubles
Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing (Mas) beat Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie (Mas) 21-17, 21-9
