A First at the Dubai World Superseries Finals

(ATR) Badminton’s season-ending Dubai World Superseries Finals featured a breakthrough by Viktor Axelsen of Denmark.

Axelsen picked a good time to win his first World Superseries event, defeating China’s Tian Houwei 21-14, 6-21, 21-17 to take the men’s singles title. Axelsen was playing in his second straight final and had fallen short at the last hurdle before.

"Winning this title means the world to me," said Axelsen. "I’ve been in many finals now… it was battle of nerves, especially in the third set, and I am happy I came out strongest in the end. It wasn’t beautiful, but it was enough from my side."

Tai Tzu Ying of Chinese Taipei regained the women’s title she had won for the first time in 2014. She defeated Sung Ji Huyn of South Korea 21-14, 21-13 to lift the trophy for the second time in three years.

Chinese teenager Chen Qingchen sealed her status as the most exciting doubles player on the circuit today, clinching both the women’s and mixed doubles crowns.

She teamed with countrywoman Jia Yifan to win the women’s doubles title, edging past top seeds and Rio 2016 gold medalists Misaki Matsutomo and Ayaka Takahashi of Japan in three games.

Chen then returned for the mixed doubles with Zheng Siwei, and the Chinese duo easily dispatched defending champions Chris Adcock and Gabrielle Adcock Of Great Britain in just 30 minutes.

The men’s doubles title was won by Malaysia’s Goh V. Shem and Tan Wee Kiong, who rolled to a convincing win over Japan’s Takeshi Kamura and Keigo Sonoda.

The Dubai World Superseries Finals, held at the Hamdan Sports Complex, featured the eight top players in the Destination Dubai Rankings in singles, doubles and mixed doubles competing for a share of a million dollar prize pool. To qualify for Dubai the players had to amass points from 12 MetLife BWF World Superseries Tournaments held around the world throughout the year.

Written by Gerard Farek

Homepage photo: Getty Images

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