Kento meets Koki in Korean Masters final but all over for Malaysians

PETALING JAYA: Japan are assured of the men’s singles title in the Korean Masters but who will win it – the older or the younger star?

Seasoned campaigner Kento Momota has set up a meeting with Koki Watanabe after both Japanese players came through their respective semi-final matches with easy wins against their opponents at the Gwangju Women’s University Stadium on Saturday.

Left-handed Kento, 29, defeated China’s Lei Lanxi 21-10, 21-19 while the 24-year-old Watanabe blew away Wang Tzu-wei of Taiwan 21-15, 21-14 to make it an all-Japanese affair in the final.

The record between them is 1-1 with world No. 52 Kento winning against the seventh seed in the Malaysian Masters in 2022 and the world No. 26 Watanabe getting his revenge at the Japan Open last year.

Japan are also in two other finals with qualifier Tomoka Miyazaki taking on Kim Ga-eun in the women’s singles while Rui Hirokami-Yuna Kato face Jeong Na-eun-Kim Hye-jung in the women’s doubles.

While Japan enjoyed a great day, it was all over for Malaysia’s Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie and Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei in the mixed doubles semis.

Soon Huat-Shevon lost to second seeds Jiang Zhenbang-Wei Yaxin of China 21-19, 21-15. It was their third defeat to the pair.

A day ago they had stunned third seeds Kim Won-ho-Na-eun.

Said Shevon: “It’s okay, we gave out best out there.”

Tang Jie-Ee Wei went down 14-21, 17-21 to reigning world champions Seo Seung-jae-Chae Yu-jung of South Korea.