Chen Yu survives scare to claim Thailand title

BANGKOK, July 30 (Reuters) China's Chen Yu saved two match points on his way to a thrilling 21-17 21-23 22-20 victory over compatriot Chen Jin in the men's singles final at the Thailand Open today.

Chen Yu started well and held the upper hand in the first game but his opponent forced a string of errors in the second to take control of the contest.

Trailing by 11 points at one stage, Chen Yu pulled back to 20-20 with a combination of stinging back court returns and light lifts over the net, but Chen Jin held on to level the match.

Buoyed by his success, Chen Jin opened up another lead in the decider but Chen Yu kept his composure and staved off a pair of match points before sealing victory.

China enjoyed more success when Zhu Lin took the women's singles title with a 21-13 18-21 21-15 defeat of the inexperienced South Korean Hwang Hye-youn, who's dream run ended after she had seen off the top two seeds in earlier rounds.

Zhu looked set to dominate the match after taking the opening game, but the tenacious Hwang, playing in her first major tournament final, chased every return to push the Chinese to a third game.

Despite Hwang's efforts to vary her play, Zhu pulled away from her opponent after an hour of play to claim the title.

In an earlier match, South Korean pairing Lee Yong-dae and Hwang Yu-mi beat home favourites Sudket Prapakamol and Saralee Thoungthongkam 21-11 18-21 22-20 to take a mixed doubles title that either team could have won.

Lee and Hwang, who knocked out Olympic gold medallists Zhang Jun and Gao Ling on Friday, were matched point-for-point for most of the one hour 11-minute contest, but the South Koreans did just enough to claim victory by the narrowest of margins.

REUTERS DH RS1629