Japan swept to the coveted Men’s and Women’s Singles titles at the BWF Worl
d Junior Championships 2012 for EYE – Level Cups yesterday on home court in Chiba.
Continuing the promising form he showed in the team competition and in the early rounds of individual action, hometown favourite Kento Momota (left) closed the tournament with a victorious 17-21 21-19 19-21 rout of China’s Xue Song in the Men’s final.
It was the first time for the week that the 18-year-old and No. 2 seed was pushed to three games; winning his previous five encounters in straight games (first-round bye). En route to the championship showdown, Xue had beaten top seed, Viktor Axelsen of Denmark, in last Friday’s quarter-finals, 19-21 21-13 17-21.
Momota’s heroics followed those of female compatriot, Nozomi Okuhara (pictured on BWF home page), who blitzed her team-mate Akane Yamaguchi 21-12 21-9 to take the Women’s Singles crown. Meanwhile, favourite and top seed, Tai Tzu Ying of Chinese Taipei, was ousted 21-18 13-21 11-21 in the quarter-finals by China’s Sun Yu.
Three different countries claimed the doubles titles. South Korea’s Lee So Hee and Shin Seung Chan celebrated Women’s Doubles delight (21-14 18-21 21-18) over Yu Xiaohan and Huang Yaqiong of China.
Hong Kong’s Lee Chun Hei and Ng Ka Long beat Takuto Inoue and Yuki Kaneko of Japan 21-16 21-17 to lift the Men’s Doubles trophy.
In an all-Indonesian battle for Mixed Doubles honours, Edi Subaktiar and Melati Daeva Oktaviani emerged winners over Alfian Eko Prasetya and Shella Devi Aulia, 21-17 21-13.
The losing semi-finalists in all five categories also received medals.
BWF World Junior Championships 2012 for EYE – Level Cups
MEDALLISTS
Men’s Doubles Medallists
Women’s Doubles Medallists
Mixed Doubles Medallists
Women’s Singles Medallists
Men’s Singles Medallists
Text by Gayle Alleyne
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