TOKYO, July 19 (Xinhua) -- France's shuttler Christo Popov and India's P. V. Sindhu won the men's and women's singles titles, respectively, at the Japan Open on Sunday.
Popov made a fast start against Japan's Koki Watanabe in the men's singles final, taking the opening game 21-11. Watanabe responded in a closely contested second game, with the score tied at 19-19 before Popov won the final two points to claim the fifth BWF World Tour men's singles title of his career.
The women's singles final featured two former world champions. Sindhu controlled the 50-minute contest throughout, defeating home favorite Akane Yamaguchi 21-17, 21-17 to win her first women's singles title at a top-tier tournament in seven years.
China and South Korea each finished with one gold and one silver medal in the doubles events.
Top-seeded Chinese mixed doubles pair Feng Yanzhe and Huang Dongping defeated Hong Kong, China's Tang Chun Man and Tse Ying Suet 21-14, 14-21, 21-15 to secure their third title of the season.
The women's doubles final produced a 99-minute marathon between China's second-seeded Jia Yifan and Zhang Shuxian and South Korea's Kim Hye-jeong and Kong Hee-yong. After the pairs split the opening two games, the decider went the distance before Kim and Kong edged a dramatic 30-29 victory.
South Korea's silver medal came in the men's doubles, where world No. 1 pair Kim Won-ho and Seo Seung-jae were beaten 21-19, 21-17 by Indonesia's Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Shohibul Fikri. ■
