Defending champion Tine Rasmussen of Denmark successfully defended her title on Sunday in a three-set fight with the world's first-seeded female shuttler Zhou Mi from Hong Kong.
The world's second-seeded badminton player, who won the title last year, foiled Zhou's efforts to topple her with 21-17, 15-21, 21-16 in a 56 minute engagement at the Malaysian Open Super Series.
It was a difficult encounter for both of them, Rasmussen told a press conference after her winning.
She said that she won with good tactics and she would go home to have a good relax after this contest for her next focus on defending her All-England title and winning the World Championship crown.
"I have changed my approach now. I am taking each tournament easily and the most important thing is to have fun," she said.
In the men's doubles, second-seeded South Korean pair Jung Jae Sung/Lee Yong Dae crushed unseeded Alvent Yulianto Chandra/Hendra Aprida Gunawan of Indonesia 18-21, 21-14, 21-14 and seized the title.
In the women's doubles, Yang Wei/Zhang Jiewen of China failed to defend their title and lost to South Korean pair, Lee Hyo Jung/Lee Kyung Won, 15-21, 12-21 in some 30 minutes.
Indonesian pair Nova Widianto/Liliyana Natsir took the title in the mixed doubles after defeating second-seeded South Korean pair Lee Yong Dae/Lee Hyo Jung in straight sets 21-14, 21-19.
The Malayian Open Super Series this year offered prize money of 15,000 U.S. dollars for champions each in the men's and women's singles, and 6,000 U.S. dollars for runners-up each.
For the doubles, it offered 13,800 U.S. dollars for champions and 5,600 U.S. dollars for runners-up each.
(Xinhua News Agency January 12, 2009)
