CHANGZHOU, China, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- World No. 1 Kento Momota of Japan claimed the men's singles title after a 91-minute intense battle with Anthony Sinisuka Ginting of Indonesia at the 2019 Badminton China Open here on Sunday.
Ginting, seeded seventh, took the tight first set 21-19 before Momota reversed to win the second 21-17.
In the deciding set, Momota took the lead 19-16. Ginting then garnered 3 consecutive points to tie the game, but failed to stop the Japanese from scoring the last two points for the victory.
"I was under great pressure during the match because I knew I had to take the game," said Momota, who won nine times in their previous twelve competitions but lost last year's final right here in Changzhou.
"It was a close game and I was lucky today," said the two-time and reigning world champion Momota.
The top seed spoke highly of his rival Ginting, with whom he changed jerseys after the match, saying "It will be hard for me to beat him next time if I can't build up a huge lead in the game".
