* Credit Jawa Post
Two of Asia's finest men's singles shuttlers – China's Shi Yuqi and Korea's Son Won-ho – returned to competitive badminton after a long layoff due to injury to compete in last week's Super 300 USD150,000 Macau Open.
Former World No 2 Shu Yuqi, who suffered an ankle injury in the Indonesia Open in July, did well to reach the final as the top seed but fell 21-12, 14-21, 7-21 to Thailand's fifth seed Sitthikom Thammasin at the last hurdle.
Won-ho seeded No 2, could only reach the second round before losing to China's Sun Fei Xiang 10-21, 17-21.
For Thammasin, who will feature in the Sea Games in the Philippines later this month, winning the Macau Open is a big boost for Thai badminton in the biennial games. He is the first Thai man to win a title on the world tour.
"Now that I have won a Super 300 title, my next target is to win a Super 500 title," said a delighted Thammasin on his win in Macau China.
Thailand's World No 4 and top seeds Dechapol Puavaranukroh-Sapsiree Taerattanachai lived up to their billing to win the mixed doubles title with a 21-11, 21-8 win over Wang Chi Lin-Cheng Chi Ya of Chinese Taipei in 31 minutes.
It is their fourth career title and third this season after winning the Singapore Open in April and the Korea Open in July. They earned USD11,850 for their win in Macau China.
Just like Thammasin, the mixed doubles pair has also set its sights on winning the gold in the SEA Games and also move up the ranks to win Super 500 titles as their coming targets.
The women's singles title was won by Canada's Michelle Li. The top seed outplayed China's third-seeded Han Yue 21-18, 21-8 in 39 minutes to pocket USD11,250. The loser took home USD5,700.
The women's doubles went China's way with top seeds Du Yue-Li Yunhui given a run for their money before prevailing 21-16, 10-21, 21-12 in 73 minutes over Thai second seeds Jongkolphan Kititharakul-Rawinda Prajongjai.
The men's doubles title was clinched by World No 3 Li Junhui-Liu Yuchen who beat compatriots Huang Kaixiang-Liu Cheng 21-8, 18-21, 22-20 in an All-China affair in a closely fought 56-minute match.
RESULTS (ALL FINALS)
Mixed doubles
Dechapol Puavaranukroh-Sapsiree Taerattanachai (THA) beat Wang Chi Lin-Cheng Chi Ya (TPE) 21-11, 21-8
Women's singles
Michelle Li (CAN) beat Han Yue (CHN) 21-18, 21-8
Women's doubles
Du Yue-Li Yinhui (CHN) beat Jongkolphan Kititharakul-Rawinda Prajongjai (THA) 21-16, 10-21, 21-12
Men's singles
Sitthikom Thammasin (THA) beat Shi Yuqi (CHN) 12-21, 21-14, 21-7
Men's doubles
Li Junhui-Liu Yuchen (CHN) beat Huang Kaixiang-Liu Cheng (CHN) 21-8, 18-21, 22-20
