Indian shuttlers had a field day over the weekend – winning the singles crown in the Yonex Swiss Open through Sameer Verma in Basel on Sunday while P. Kashyap won the Austrian Open International Challenge in Vienna a day earlier.
Japan were not to be denied their fair share of glory in the Swiss Open with Sayaka Takahashi taking the women's singles and compatriots Ayaka Sakuramoto-Yukiko Takahata the women's doubles.
The 23-year-old Sameer defeated Denmark's former world No 2 Jan O Jorgensen in straight games 21-15, 21-13 in only 36 minutes for his first title this season. In the process Sameer became the third Indian to win the Swiss Open after K. Srikanth (2015) and H.S. Prannoy (2016).
Japan celebrated the first of the titles in Basel. It was an all-Japan final between Sayaka Takahashi with the top seed defeating rising star Natsuki Nidaira 21-12, 21-18 in a 40-minute match to pocket USD11,250 in prize money that came with it.
It was double celebration for the Japanese women when Ayako Sakuramoto-Yukiko Takahata came back from a game down to upset top seeds – Stoeva sisters Gabriela and Stefanie of Bulgaria – 19-21, 21-15, 21-18 in a marathon 80-minute battle.
Germany's Mark Lamsfuss-Isabel Herttrich won the mixed doubles while Mathias Boe-Carsten Mogensen won the men's doubles.
Meanwhile, Glasgow Commonwealth Games gold medallist Kashyap defeated Malaysia's Cheam June Wei in Vienna 23-21, 21-14 for his first title in three years. Kashyap's badminton career in badminton took a dive when he battled multiple injuries, including muscle tear, knee injury which needed surgery, dislocated shoulder, hamstring and abdominal strain.
RESULTS (SWISS OPEN)
All Finals
Men's singles
Sameer Verma (IND) beat Jan O Jorgensen (DEN) 21-15, 21-13
Men's Doubles
Mathias Boe-Carsten Mogensen (DEN) beat Tinn Isriyanet-Kittisak Namdash (THA) 21-15, 21-11
Women's singles
Sayaka Takahashi (JPN) beat Natsuki Nidaira (JPN) 21-12, 21-18
Women's doubles
Ayako Sakuramoto-Yukiko Takahata (JPN) beat Gabriela Stoeva-Stefani Stoeva (BUL) 19-21, 21-15, 21-18
Mixed doubles
Mark Lamsfuss-Isabel Herttrich (GER) beat Marcus Ellis-Lauren Smith (ENG) 22-20, 21-19
