Hongkonger Ng wins Thailand Masters for first BWF World Tour title
Hong Kong’s Ng Ka Long rallied back from a game down to beat Japanese Kenta Nishimoto to claim his maiden BWF World Tour title in the Princess Sirivannavari Thailand Masters at the Hua Mark Indoor Stadium on Sunday (January 26).
Lt-General Thitithan Suksri (middle) and all winners.
The world No 9, raised his game and intensified his attacks after losing the opener 16-21, to subdue the world No 16 21-13 21-12 in the next two games to win the Super 300 event.
Ng’s last win was in the Malaysian Masters, then classified as a Grand Prix event in 2017. He earned US$12,750 as the winner’s cheque.
Nishimoto has yet to win a title, having lost six finals. He will return to Japan with a runner's-up cheque of US$6,460.
On the women’s side, world No 3 Akana Yamaguchi of Japan scored her first victory over South Korean teenager An Se Young after a tough grind, winning 21-14 22-20 in 48 minutes. It was her first win over the 17-year-old Korean after losing their previous encounters at the Korea Masters and French Open last year.
Former world No 1 Yamaguchi has won a total of six BWF World Tour titles. She earned US$12,750 for her victory in Bangkok. An, No 9 in the world, received US$6,460.
