Thailand's Kunlavut Vitidsarn secured the Malaysia Open men's singles title yesterday after defending champion Shi Yuqi was forced to retire due to a back injury. Kunlavut was leading 23-21, 6-1 when the Chinese world number one pulled out early in the second game. Kunlavut, the world No. 2, admitted he was "running on empty" after a grueling week of competition.

The Thai star noted that if the match had gone into long rallies, he might not have had the stamina to defeat Shi. This victory marks a significant achievement for Kunlavut, further establishing his position at the top of the world rankings. Fans at the arena gave a standing ovation to both players, acknowledging Shi's attempt to play through the pain before retiring.