Axelsen, Marin win Japan Open titles

Tokyo: World champion Viktor Axelsen of Denmark beat Malaysia’s Lee Chong Wei on Sunday to clinch his first Japan Open title. Axelsen, who defeated two-time Olympic champion Lin Dan of China to bag the world title in Glasgow last month, edged out Lee 21-14, 19-21, 21-14 in the men’s singles final.

Lee, who has won the Japan Open six times including last year, narrowly took the second game but the Dane put in a brilliant performance to triumph in the third. In the women’s singles Carolina Marin of Spain, last year’s Olympic gold medallist, overwhelmed He Bingjiao of China 23-21, 21-12.