for her first singles crown in three years, Kyodo News reported. Top-seeded Gade Christensen avenged back-to-back losses to Sun in their most recent meetings with a 15-3, 15-10 victory in the men's final at Yoyogi national gymnasium annex, living up to his No. 1 world ranking.
''I was able to keep focused throughout the match. This win made me confident that I can win the world championship title (in May),'' said the 22-year-old Christensen, who kept No. 4 seed Sun at bay throughout a match that lasted only 35 minutes.
No. 5 seed Ye snatched the women's crown back from seventh-seeded Gong for her third Japan Open title, battling back from a disastrous first game to win 1-11, 11-5, 11-6 in a rematch of last year's all-Chinese championship final.
''I never got upset when I was down. I thought it would turn out to be OK if I stick with my own game,'' said Ye, who also allowed Gong a 6-1 lead in the final game.
In the men's doubles final, Kim Dong Moon and Ha Tae Kwon of South Korea defeated compatriots Lee Dong Soo and Yoo Yong Sung 15-6, 15-4 in a match-up between unseeded pairs.
The women's doubles title went to China's Atlanta Olympic gold medalists and defending champions Ge Fei and Gu Jun , who downed No. 1 seed Yang Wei and Huang Nanyan, also of China, 12-15, 17-16, 15-5. In the mixed doubles final, No. 6 seed Liu Yong and Ge Fei of China routed South Korea's Ha Tae Kwon and Chung Jae Hee 15-1, 15-3.
Badminton-Singapore Open finals results (1999-08-29)Christensen, Ye win Japan Open badminton singles (1999-04-12)Badminton-Gade, Ye land All England crowns (1999-03-15)3 (11285)
