Lee stuns Axelsen to win first title, easy for Okuhara

Birmingham

Rising Malaysian badminton player Lee Zii Jia stunned world No. 2 Viktor Axelsen of Denmark to win his maiden All England Championships title here today. The 22-year-old beat the defending champion 30-29 20-22 21-9 in the mens’ singles final that lasted 74 minutes. World No. 10 Lee had stunned world No. 1 Kento Momota on his way to the final. Earlier, Japan’s Nozomi Okuhara beat Thailand’s Pornpawee Chochuwong 21-12 21-16 to the women’s singles title for the second time. Chochuwong had defeated PV Sindhu in the semifinals yesterday.

Gurugram
Kadhe, Rashmika become national champions

Maharashtra’s Arjun Kadhe and Telangana’s Rashmika Bhamidipaty emerged as the new national champions after winning their respective finals at the The Project Tennis Hard Court Championships here today. Kadhe got the better of Tamil Nadu’s Prithvi Sekhar 6-3 6-4 in the men’s singles final. Rashmika toppled Gujarat’s Vaidehi Chaudhari 6-2 7-6(2) in the women’s singles final.

New Delhi
SAI allows non-residential athletes to train in NCOEs

The Sports Authority of India has allowed non-residential athletes to train at its National Centre of Excellence (NCOEs). They will be required to strictly follow all Covid-19 protocols in order to protect the bio-bubble made for the country’s Tokyo Olympics-bound sportspersons.

Mexico City
Zverev beats Tsitsipas to win Mexican Open

World No. 7 Alexander Zverev recovered from an uncertain start to beat Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-4 7-6(3) in a thrilling Mexican Open final in Acapulco on Saturday and land his 14th ATP title. The 23-year-old German lost the final to Nick Kyrgios in 2019. Agencies