Okuhara, Momota emerge champions in World Dubai Superseries Finals

Dubai - First, tiny 20-year old, Nozomi Okuhara, downed her arch rival from China Wang Yihan, a former world champ and the London Olympics silver medallist 22-20, 21-18 in one hour of classy badminton.

 Two Japanese youngsters gave their nation a grand double at the $1 million MetLife Dubai BWF World Superseries Finals when they walked away with the men's and women's singles crowns in style on Sunday night.
First, tiny 20-year old, Nozomi Okuhara, downed her arch rival from China Wang Yihan, a former world champ and the London Olympics silver medallist 22-20, 21-18 in one hour of classy badminton.
Then to add a higher dimension to the Japanese camp's celebrations, second seed Kento Momota who is 21, kept pushing Danish fourth seeded Viktor Axelsen, another 21-year old, before registering an authoritative 21-15, 21-12 title triumph that came after 38 minutes.
Momota led 16-14 and 18-14 with superbly controlled and measured returns, hardly allowing Axelsen to dish out his fine blend of aggression and defence. But silly mistakes up front by the 6ft 5in tall Axelsen who stunned Chen Long on Saturday, saw Momota race to victory in the world's richest individual prize money ($80,000).
"Got a bit lucky and our strategy paid off as Axelsen fell at the critical moments," Momota said.
"Too much of energy was drained out, mentally and physically during my semis against Chen Long, and I could not keep up to the changes and variations from Momota," said Axelsen.
Fourth seed Nozomi played with her usual bubbly best, running all over with the same zeal and thrust like she did from day one here, to lead 11-6, 15-6 in the first set but that was when the third seeded Wang Yihan with her sheer brilliance came fighting back to level 15-15 and later 17all. With two lucky net chords Nozomi went on to win the set straight after deuce from 20-all.
Yihan reserved some of her best for the second set when she held advantage at 11-6, 15-9 and later sailed to 18-15/16 though there was a brief fightback by Nozomi (15-12). Nozomi  shot ahead to 20-18 as Yihan made three uncharacteristic errors, on the forehand, and it was not long before Nozomi went down on her knees and then flat on her back with emotion and joy.
"I was so grateful for the chance to be playing the final today. My physical condition which is still not very good withstood the great shots from a great player like Yihan," said Nozomi.
"Everything went well today except for the costly mistakes in the late stages of both sets. Nozomi has a great future and talent," said Yihan.
In the men's doubles summit clash fourth seeds Chai Biao and Hong Wei (China) went down to the talented Indonesians Mohammad Ahsan and Hendra Setiawan 21-13, 14-21, 14-21.
Luo twins - Ying and Yu - claimed the women's doubles when Danish opponents, the seasoned Christinna Pedersen and Kamilla Rtyyer Juhl retired in the third set when the score read 14-4 in favour of the Chinese sisters. The Danes played in their usual aggressive mode to clinch the first set 21-14 but got whitewashed as Christinna showed signs of exhaustion due to a stomach problem to go down 9-21.
"We had a smoother time than most pairs as combination is something that is more natural to us, having started together at a very early age," said Yu.
Mixed doubles proved to be a wonderful night for the British husband wife combo of Chris and Gabrielle Adcock who pinned down the Republic of Korea's third seeded pair of Ko Sung Hyun and Kim Ha Na 21-14, 21-17 in 37 minutes.
Chris said: "This has been a long year with so many misses but we have come out peaking at the appropriate time. Now this good prize money can afford us some extra baggage for the return flight." Gabrielle said: "Ko's lack of depth in his attacks and sliced shots made it a little easier for us. The feeling is overwhelming, and time for year-end celebrations ."
Ko said: "I think things did not go well when they returned flat and deep to us. My all-out attacking style was reduced a lot."
moni@khaleejtimes.com