KUALA LUMPUR: Independent shuttler S. Kisona celebrated an early Deepavali cheer by ending a three-year title drought with a victory at the Dutch Open in Hertogenbosch yesterday (Oct 27).
The win marks Malaysia's first title at the Dutch Open since 2015 when Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong clinched the men's doubles title.
World No. 101 Kisona defeated 75th-ranked Keisha Fatimah Azzhara from Azerbaijan 21-14, 21-16 in the women's singles final, wrapping up the match in 41 minutes.
Kisona's last title came at the 2021 Spanish International Challenge, where she beat compatriot Goh Jin Wei (21-14, 21-19).
The 2019 Sea Games champion hopes to regain her best form following a series of injuries.
"All the glory to the Lord. Little victories matter," Kisona posted on Instagram following her victory.
The Dutch Open, one of Europe's prominent tournaments since its inception in 1931, has since been downgraded to an International Challenge event.
Over the years, prominent Malaysian players, including the late Datuk Eddy Choong, Wong Choong Hann, Roslin Hashim, Lee Tsuen Seng, Hafiz Hashim and Sairul Amar Ayub, have won titles there in men's singles.
Malaysian men's doubles success has also been considerable, with wins by pairs like Tan Kim Her-Yap Kim Hock, Cheah Soon Kit-Soo Beng Kiang, Choong Tan Fook-Lee Wan Wah, and lastly Kien Keat-Boon Heong in 2015.
Kisona's triumph makes her the first Malaysian women's singles shuttler to win the Dutch Open.
The victory renews her hopes of sustaining her independent career, which she embarked on after leaving the BA of Malaysia (BAM) in December 2022.
Kisona, who underwent knee surgery in 2014, recovered to win the Sea Games gold in Manila in 2019.
However, continued knee issues led her to leave BAM, seeking alternative treatments and aiming to extend her career as an independent player.
Kisona will not be celebrating Deepavali, as she will compete in the Super 300 Hylo Open, starting tomorrow in Saarbrucken, Germany. She will face world No. 24 Kirsty Gilmour of Scotland in the first round.