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Lee Chong Wei wins Malaysia Open

KUALA LUMPUR, JULY 4. Malaysia's Lee Chong Wei won his first international title on Sunday, with a 15-3, 15-12 victory over Park Sung-hwan of South Korea in the final of the $120,000 Malaysia Open.

Lee, 21, who stunned world No. 2 and defending champion Cheng Ho of China in the semifinals on Saturday, put up another convincing show to outwit Park in 37 minutes at the Sukpa Indoor Stadium in eastern Kuantan city.

The unseeded Park, who had earned the giant-killer's tag after beating two top Chinese players: world No. 1 Lin Dan and former world No. 1 Xia Xuanze in the quarterfinals and semifinals, could not match Lee's cross-court smashes and precision net play, and the Malaysian went on to bag his biggest career title.

Malaysia won the men's doubles title as well through world No. four Choong Tan Fook and Lee Wan Wah, who defeated the Indonesian pair of Luluk Hadiyanto and Alven Yulianto 15-12, 15-7.

This is the veteran Malaysian pair's first international Open title since winning the 1999 German Open.

China ruled the roost on the distaff side, with Zhang Ning beating compatriot Zhou Mi 9-11, 11-7, 11-8 for the women's singles title and Yang Wei and Zhang Jiewen also defeating compatriots Gao Ling and Huang Sui 15-7, 15-6 to emerge doubles champions.

In the mixed doubles, China's Zhang Jun and Gao Ling cruised to a 15-2, 15-11 victory over South Korea's Kim Yong-hyun and Lee Hyo-jung.

The results: Men: Singles: Lee Chong Wei (Mal) bt Park Sung-hwan (S.Kor) 15-3, 15-12. Doubles: Choong Tan Fook/Lee Wan Wah (Mal) bt Luluk Hadiyanto/Alven Yulianto (Ina) 15-12, 15-7.

Women: Singles: Zhang Ning (Chn) bt Zhou Mi (Chn) 9-11, 11-7, 11-8.

Doubles: Yang Wei/Zhang Jiewen (Chn) bt Gao Ling/Huang Sui (Chn) 15-7, 15-6.

Mixed Doubles: Zhang Jun/Gao Ling (Chn) bt Kim Yong-hyun/Lee Hyo-jung (S.Kor) 15-2, 15-11.— AP

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