‘Chen-pion’ At Last! – Finals: Fuzhou China Open 2018
Chen Yufei completed her coming of age at elite level in brilliant fashion today, beating one of the best to capture her first Women’s Singles title on the HSBC BWF World Tour.
· GAYLE ALLEYNE
The 20-year-old (featured image), who has worked her way steadily up the world rankings and has clinically cast aside the top campaigners in establishing herself, celebrated another milestone – with the scalp of Nozomi Okuhara – as she was crowned queen of Fuzhou China Open 2018. Her 21-10 21-16 triumph in front of adoring home fans was as satisfying for the full commitment which she showed to the task, particularly with a torrent of thunderous smashes that left her illustrious opponent for dead, as it was for the sheer delight of collecting the biggest prize of her young career and finally ascending to the top of the podium.
As Okuhara – who gave a surprisingly error-strewn performance – sent another shuttle adrift to surrender rather meekly, Chen let rip a throaty scream, perhaps born of the frustration of finishing runner-up four times already this season.
Despite her reputation as a tough competitor, Chen entered the Sunday showpiece as the underdog,