Long-awaited triumph

All smiles: Vivian Hoo (left) and Woon Khe Wei posing with the trophies after winning the women’s doubles title at the New Zealand Open at the North Shore Events Centre in Auckland yesterday.

PETALING JAYA: Shuttlers Vivian Hoo and Woon Khe Wei showed true grit to win the New Zealand Open to prove that their careers are far from over.

Yesterday, the top seeds ended a six-year agonising wait for an Open title by dishing out one of their best performances to beat Ayako Sakura­moto-Yukiko Takahata of Japan 18-21, 21-16, 21-19 in a marathon women’s doubles final that lasted for one hour and 39 minutes at the North Shore Events Centre in Auckland.