KUALA LUMPUR: National men's singles ace Lee Chong Wei has won the Celcom Axiata Malaysian Open for a record 12th time.
The 35-year-old fended off a fierce challenge from Japan's Kento Momota to prevail 21-17, 23-21 in a 70-minute epic final to reclaim the title he last won in 2016.
Chong Wei also won in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014.
The Malaysian Open victory is Chong Wei's first triumph of the season.
For world No.11 Momota, the defeat to Chong Wei ended a sizzling 21-match unbeaten run.
In the women's singles, defending champion Tai Tzu-ying of Taiwan defeated He Bingjiao of China 22-20, 21-11 to claim her third title in the tournament.
She was also the winner in 2013.
Japan bagged two titles through their men's doubles pair Takeshi Kamura-Keigo Sonoda and women's doubles pair Misaki Matsutomo-Ayaka Takahashi.
Kamura-Sonoda easily downed compatriots Endo-Watanabe 21-8, 21-10 to become the first ever Japanese men's doubles champions in the tournament history.
Reigning Olympic champions Matsutomo-Takahashi pipped Chinese rivals Chen Qingchen-Jia Yifan to the women's doubles crown with a convincing 21-12, 21-12 victory.
Zheng Siwei-Huang Yaqiong of China emerged triumphant mixed doubles when they beat Wang Yilyu-Huang Dongping 21-19, 21-18 in an all-Chinese affair.
Siwei also won in Kuching last year but with a different partner, Qingchen.
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