Tsuneyama scores a first for Japan in men’s singles of Thailand Open

PETALING JAYA: Kanta Tsune­yama emerged as the first Japanese men’s singles winner in the Thailand Open in Bangkok.

The world No. 33 Tsuneyama beat Tommy Sugiarto (pic) of Indonesia 21-16, 13-21, 21-9 in 58 minutes to deny the latter from completing a Thai double.

Tommy, the world No. 15, had earlier won the Thailand Masters in January.

For the 22-year-old Tsuneyama, the Thailand Open triumph is his career’s best achievement having won the lower tier Canada Open and Austrian Open last year and the Finnish Open in 2016.

Japan also landed the men’s doubles and women’s singles titles through Takeshi Kamura-Keigo Sonoda and reigning world champion Nozomi Okuhara.

Okuhara prevailed against India’s P.V. Sindhu 21-15, 21-18 in a rematch of last year’s World Championships final while Sonoda-Kamura edged countrymen Hiroyuki Endo-Yuta Watanabe for the second time in as many finals by winning 21-17, 21-19.

The two pairs clashed in the final of the Malaysian Open two weeks ago.

Greysia Polii-Apriyani Rahayu of Indonesia prevented the Japanese from claiming their fourth title of the day by outplaying Rio Olympic champions Misaki Matsutomo-Ayaka Takahashi 21-13, 21-10 in the women’s doubles.

Hafiz Faizal-Gloria Emanuelle Widjaja made it a double joy for the Indonesians with a 21-12, 21-12 victory over top seeds Chris Adcock-Gabrielle Adcock of England in the mixed doubles final.

 

FINAL RESULTS

Men’s singles: Kanta Tsuneyama (Jpn) bt Tommy Sugiarto (Ina) 21-16, 13-21, 21-9.

Men’s doubles: Takeshi Kamura-Keigo Sonoda (Jpn) bt Hiroyuki Endo-Yuta Watanabe (Jpn) 21-17, 21-19.

Women’s singles: Nozomi Okuhara (Jpn) bt P.V. Sindhu (Ind) 21-15, 21-18.

Women’s doubles: Greysia Polii-Apriyani Rahayu (Ina) bt Misaki Matsutomo-Ayaka Takahashi (Jpn) 21-13, 21-10.

Mixed doubles: Hafiz Faizal-Gloria Emanuelle Widjaja (Ina) bt Chris AdcockGabrielle Adcock (Eng) 21-12, 21-12.