Shuttler Yeo wins Vietnam Open

Aug 13, 2018 06:00 am

She was unseeded at the Vietnam Open, having been promoted to the main draw of the women's singles event from the qualifiers.

Nonetheless, Singapore shuttler Yeo Jia Min went on a giant-killing run which culminated in a shock 21-19, 21-19 win over China's world No. 37 Han Yue in yesterday's final at the Nguyen Du Cultural Sports Club in Ho Chi Minh City.

The 19-year-old teenager, ranked 92nd in the world, also slayed higher-ranked opponents en route to the final - Indonesia's Yulia Yosephin Susanto (59th), Thailand's Chananchida Jucharoen (86th), Hong Kong's Deng Joy Xuan (69th) and Japan's Minatsu Mitani (26th).

It was Yeo's second title at the senior level; she also won the women's singles title at the 2016 Vietnam Open - a Badminton World Federation Super 100 event (sixth tier). "I thank God for this win; I feel relieved and happy at the same time and I couldn't have done it without my coach and the support back in Singapore," the former world junior No. 1 said in a phone interview yesterday.

She trailed by as many as four points in both games yesterday against Han - a semi-finalist at the Singapore Badminton Open last month - but rallied back.

National singles coach Kelvin Ho praised Yeo, saying: "She was very brave, clear-minded in choosing the right shot at the right time. She was unpredictable in her attacking shots, she was focused and confident, too." - LIM SAY HENG