* Credit image: Scroll.in
There is no stopping Kento Momota who showed why he is currently the hottest badminton property in the world with another smashing display to win the men's singles title in the USD700,000 Daihatsu Yonex Japan Open on Sunday.
The 23-year-old Asian and World champion showed his class in his 21-14, 21-11 win over unseeded Thai youngster Khosit Phetpradap in 49 minutes.
The fourth-ranked Momota was seeded third in the Japan Open.
In the process, Momota, who was once ranked No 2 in the world before he was slapped a ban by the Nippon Badminton Association for visiting illegal casinos to gamble and missed the Rio Olympics in 2016, became the first Japanese to win the men's singles title.
"I never thought I would stand here as champion.
It's a dream come true to be a winner here.
I thank all who have made it possible for this win," Momota was quoted by the BWF website.
For Phetpradap there is no shame in his defeat.
Along the way to reaching his first major final, the Thai mowed down All-England Champion Shi Yuqi and dumped reigning Olympic champion, Chen Long.
There were more celebrations for Japan when top seeds Yuki Fukushima-Sayaka Hirota walked away with the women's doubles title with a 21-15, 21-12 win over seconds Chen Qingchen-Jia Yifan in 57 minutes.
However, Japan's hopes of winning a third title at the MusashinoForest Sports Plaza in Tokyo were dashed when former world champion Nozomo Okuhara was beaten in the women's singles final by Spain's Carolina Marin in three games 21-9, 17-21, 21-11 in a marathon 74-minute encounter.
Indonesia also celebrated when top-ranked and number one seeds Marcus Fernaldi Gideon-Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo, the newly crowned Asian Games champions took the men's doubles title with straight games 21-11, 21-13 win over China's second seeds Li Junhui-Liu Yuchen.
The mixed doubles final was an all-China affair with top seeds Zheng Siwei-Huang Yaqiong romping to a 21-19, 21-8 win over compatriots and second seeds Wang Yilyu-Huang Dongping.
RESULTS (ALL FINALS)
Men's singles
Kento Momota (JPN) beat Khosit Phetpradap (THA) 21-14, 21-11
Men's doubles
Marcus Fernaldi Gideon-Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo (INA) beat Li Junhui-Liu Yuchen (CHN) 21-11, 21-13
Women's singles
Carolina Marin (SPN) beat Nozomi Okuhara (JPN) 21-19, 17-21, 21-11
Women's doubles
Yuki Fukushima-Sayaka Hirota (JPN) beat Chen Qingchen-Jia Yifan (CHN)21-15, 21-12
Mixed doubles
Zheng Siwei-Huang Yaqiong (CHN) beat Wang Yilyu-Huang Dongping (CHN) 21-19, 21-8
