Thomas Cup: Japan beats Malaysia for maiden title

Japan clinched its maiden Thomas Cup badminton title, beating Malaysia 3-2 in a hard-fought final. Takuma Ueda's win over Daren Liew sealed the win for Japan, which had made the final for the first time.

Japan clinched its maiden Thomas Cup badminton title Sunday as it beat Malaysia 3-2 in a hard-fought final.

Japan-s-Takeshi-Kamura-plays-a-shot-watched-by-his-partner-Keigo-Sonoda-R-during-their-men-s-doubles-final-match-against-Malaysia-s-Tan-Wee-Kiong-and-Goh-V-Shem-in-the-Thomas-Cup-badminton-championship-in-New-Delhi-May-25-2014-REUTERS

Takuma Ueda's 21-12, 18-21, 21-17 win over Daren Liew sealed the win for Japan, which had made the final for the first time.

Malaysia took the lead through Lee Chong Wei as the world No. 1 scored a comfortable 21-12, 21-16 win over fourth-ranked Kenichi Tago.

Japan restored parity through its doubles pair of Tan Boon Heong and Hoon Thien How and then went ahead through former world junior champion Kento Momoto, who took just 39 minutes to dispose of Chong Wei Feng 21-15, 21-17.

Malaysia won the second doubles to draw level at 2-2 but Ueda kept his cool amid rising pressure to deny Malaysia a sixth title.