Japanese stars secure singles titles at BWF Superseries Finals

Japan's Kento Momota and Nozomi Okuhara earned singles titles in Dubai ©Getty Images

Japan’s Nozomi Okuhara was crowned women’s singles champion at the Badminton World Federation (BWF) Superseries Finals after continuing her stunning form by beating China’s Wang Yihan in straight games in Dubai.

The 20-year-old had emerged from her group with three straight wins, including triumphs over India’s Saina Nehwal and Spain's world number one Carolina Marin, before outplaying the latter again in yesterday’s semi-final.

Okuhara continued where she left off, producing an excellent defensive display to frustrate Yihan and eventually took the opening game 22-20.

With the Japanese player having been yet to drop a game all week, Yihan was presented with a tough task to get back into the match and she proved unable to do so, with Okuhara taking the second 21-18 to wrap up the victory.

“It was a tough game, I’m happy I could recover emotionally in the second game despite losing a string of points,” said the 2012 world junior champion.

“All year I have been thinking of winning this title.

“It has been emotionally very difficult, there was a period when I couldn’t play, and all those thoughts came to me when I won the final point.”

Kento Momota ensured Japan secured both singles titles after he overcame Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen in straight games in the men’s final.

The Danish player was below the high standard he had produced during his stunning semi-final win over world number one Chen Long of China, with Momota taking full advantage to win 21-15, 21-12.

England's Chris Adcock and Gabrielle Adcock clinched the mixed doubles title — England's Chris and Gabrielle Adcock clinched the mixed doubles title ©Getty Images

Meanwhile, in the mixed doubles competition Chris and Gabrielle Adcock became the first English players to win a title at the end-of-season tournament, after the husband-and-wife duo defeated South Korea's Ko Sung-hyun and Kim Ha-na.

The Commonwealth Games gold medallists dominated the encounter against the third seeded pair to claim a 21-14, 21-17 win.

World champions Mohammad Ahsan and Hendra Setiawan looked in danger of falling to defeat in the men’s doubles event after the Indonesian duo lost the opening game 21-13 to China’s Chai Biao and Hong Wei.

They bounced back from the early setback, however, to win the remaining two games, clinching a comeback 13-21, 21-14, 21-14 victory.

The women’s doubles also went to three games after Chinese twins Luo Ying and Luo Yu responded to losing the first game 21-14 against Denmark’s Christinna Pedersen and Kamilla Rytter Juh.

They forced a decider by winning the second 21-9 and the Chinese pair then stormed into a 14-4 lead in the decider before their Danish rivals withdraw due to Pedersen suffering from illness.