After taking down world champion Loh Kean Yew in the semifinal, Anthony, the world number six, continued to display the same attacking style to end the giant-slaying run of Naraoka, AFP reported.

The world number 43’s passage to the final saw him stun world number eight compatriot Jonathan Christie, India’s HS Prannoy and China's Zhao Jun Peng, who were all ranked higher than him.

Going head-to-head for the first time, it was Anthony who drew first blood in the initial game with his swift movements and attacks.

“I knew I had to set a very fast pace to disrupt his movement and rhythm. I had to get into good positions that would give me several options to either attack or get to the net quickly,” said Anthony.

Naraoka came out strongly in the second game by taking the lead on five occasions.

But Anthony’s ferocious attacks and deceptive net play saw him pull ahead at 17-17 to eventually win the second game 21-17.

Throwing his racquet down in sheer delight after clinching the winning point, Anthony said: “This is a very emotional victory for me. I had to endure a slump in form and was struggling. But I never stopped believing in myself and knew I would come out stronger from it.”

The women’s singles final saw world number seven Pusaria V. Sindhu triumph over China’s Wang Zhi Yi. Sindhu defeated Wang 21-9, 11-21, 21-15 for her third win this year, made even more special with her father watching from the stands.

“I’m very thankful for my father to be here in Singapore. He has always been there for me, guiding me and it is nice to have him here to see me win,” said Sindhu.

Thailand’s Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Sapsiree Taerattanachai retained their mixed doubles title after they beat China’s Wang Yi Lyu and Huang Dong Ping in straight games 21-12, 21-17.

Indonesia, meanwhile, won both the women’s and doubles competitions to win three titles.

Unseeded Apriyani Rahayu and Siti Fadia Silva Ramadhanti clinched the women’s doubles after defeating fifth seeds Zhang Shu Xian and Zheng Yu from China 21-14, 21-17 in 39 minutes, according to bwfwordtour.bwfbadminton.com.

The Singapore Open title was the second title this month for Apriyani and Siti Fadia after winning the title at Malaysia Open on July 3. In the following week, the Indonesian pair could only reach the quarterfinals of the Malaysian Masters.

Meanwhile, Indonesia’s domination in the men’s doubles sector was again maintained after unseeded Daniel Marthin and Leo Rolly Carnando defeated fellow Indonesian shuttlers Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Rian Ardianto in the second all-Indonesian final in as many weeks.

The Singapore Open even saw an all-Indonesian men’s doubles semifinals, already securing the title for Indonesia in the last four rounds.

Daniel and Leo clinched the title after beating Fajar and Rian, seeded fifth in the tournament, 9-21, 21-14, 21-16 in 52 minutes.

Last week, Fajar and Rian defeated their veteran seniors Mohammad Ahsan and Hendra Setiawan, affectionately known as the Daddies, to win the title at the Malaysia Masters.

One week earlier, Fajar and Rian failed to win the title at Malaysia Open being defeated by Japanese pair Takuro Hoki and Yugo Kobayashi. (nvn)

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