Japanese shuttler wins Russian Open

Moscow - Japan’s Kazumasa Sakai won badminton’s Russian Open Sunday, denying Vladimir Malkov a second win at his home event in Vladivostok.

Kazumasa’s winning margin of 21-17, 21-17 was belied by a strong performance by the Russian No.3 and 2009 champion who led 16-15 in the first game and held Kazumasa at 15-15 in the second before two late surges from the Japanese player made the difference Saturday.

In the women’s singles, Hashimoto Yui took the title, winning a close battle with compatriot Shizuka Uchida in the first game before dominating the second to seal a 21-19, 21-12 win.

All of the doubles titles went to Russian pairs, with top seeds Vladimir Ivanov and Ivan Sozonov beating compatriots Vitaly Durkin and Alexander Nikolaenko 21-18, 21-15 in the men’s final, while Valeria Sorokina and Nina Visolova won the women’s title with a walkover.

Nikolaenko teamed up with Sorokina to win the mixed doubles, beating Durkin and Nina Vislova 21-19, 21-17.

The tournament, part of the Grand Prix circuit, has a prize fund of $50,000.

–IANS/RIA Novosti

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