Slip-up: With his Thailand Masters final loss to Taiwan’s Lin Chun-yi, Hong Kong’s world No. 18 Angus Ng Ka Long has yet to win a World Tour title since his sole victory at the 2020 edition.
PETALING JAYA: Taiwan’s men’s singles shuttler Lin Chun-yi made heads turn when he crowned his fairytale run at the Thailand Masters by capturing the title.
The world No. 35 Chun-yi had toppled several higher-ranked players including Japan’s world No. 14 Kenta Nishimoto (quarter-finals) and China’s world No. 19 Shi Yuqi (semi-finals) en route to the final.
Yesterday, the 23-year-old completed his giant-killing run by stunning Hong Kong’s world No. 18 Angus Ng Ka Long 21-17, 21-14 in the final at the Nimibutr National Stadium in Bangkok.
It was Chun-yi’s first World Tour title since capturing the US Open in 2019.
Meanwhile, Angus, who is coached by Malaysian Wong Tat Meng, has yet to win a World Tour title since his sole victory at the 2020 Thailand Masters.
The 28-year-old had also finished runners-up in the 2021 Thailand Open and 2022 Malaysian Masters.
In the men’s doubles, Taiwan’s surprise finalists and world No. 42 Su Ching-heng-Ye Hong-wei could not make it a double joy for their country when they went down 16-21, 17-21 to Indonesia’s world No. 13 Leo Rolly-Daniel Marthin.
Similar to Chun-yi’s run, Ching-heng-Hong-wei had claimed the scalps of Leo-Daniel’s compatriots, world No. 21 Pramudya Kusumawardana-Yeremia Rambitan (last eight) and world No. 11 Shohibul Fikri-Bagas Maulana (last four) on the way to the final but could not maintain their form.
Leo-Daniel, on the other hand, continued their own hot streak after winning the Indonesian Masters in Jakarta last week.
In the mixed doubles, China’s Feng Yanzhe-Huang Dongping also brought their title-winning form in the Indonesian tourney into this tournament when they secured a hard-fought 18-21, 21-15, 21-12 victory over South Korea’s Seo Seung-jae-Chae Yu-jung.
In the women’s singles, China’s world No. 18 Zhang Yiman overcame teammate and world No. 11 Han Yue 15-21, 21-13, 21-18 in a thrilling final.
In the women’s doubles, Thai sisters and world No. 13 Benyapa Aimsaard-Nuntakarn Aimsaard brought some cheers to the home crowd after beating South Korea’s scratch pair Baek Ha-na-Lee So-hee 21-6, 21-11 in a one-sided match.
FINAL RESULTS
Men’s singles: Lin Chun-yi (Tpe) bt Angus Ng Ka Long (Hkg) 21-17, 21-14.
Men’s doubles: Leo Rolly-Daniel Marthin (Ina) bt Su Chingheng-Ye Hong-wei (Tpe) 21-16, 21-17.
Women’s singles: Zhang Yiman (Chn) bt Han Yue (Chn) 15-21, 21-13, 21-18.
Women’s doubles: Benyapa Aimsaard-Nuntakarn Aimsaard (Tha) bt Baek Ha-na-Lee So-hee (Kor) 21-6, 21-11.
Mixed doubles: Feng Yanzhe-Huang Dongping (Chn) bt Seo Seung-jae-Chae Yu-jung (Kor)18-21, 21-15, 21-12
