Lin denies Lee to win 4th world title
Source: Agencies |
August 15, 2011, Monday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
CHINA'S Lin Dan captured the world title for a fourth time yesterday, surviving two match points before beating old foe and world No. 1 Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia 20-22, 21-14, 23-21 in an exciting final at the Wembley Arena in London.
It was more heartache for Lee who had lost heavily to Lin in the Olympic final in Beijing in 2008.
Though the Malaysian extracted some revenge in March, beating Lin in the All England Championships in Birmingham, he had to play second fiddle again and their head-to-head record now stands at 16-8 in favor of the Chinese.
Lin's victory, cheered to the echo by a large and noisy Chinese following in the London arena which will host next year's Olympic event, came at the end of an exhausting 81-minute tussle.
Amid emotional scenes, the winner raced to the crowd, threw his shirt into the seating and hugged his delighted coaches.
A subdued Lee, left to ponder another defeat on a major stage, politely applauded his fans before exiting.
Lin told reporters: "The third game was really emotional. I had to fight hard. On the match points I was just hoping he would make a mistake."
Malaysian singles coach Tay Seu Bock said: "(Lee) missed out on the two match points because at the end of the game he still dared to gamble on his strokes but mentally Lin Dan was a little stronger."
Malaysia has never won a badminton title in any of the five disciplines since the inception of the championships in 1977 but for a while it looked like the sequence might finally be broken.
Lee clinched the first game despite Lin saving four game points from 16-20 down and the Malaysian then led 3-0 in the second.
But once Lin found his stride it always looked as if he could turn the tables and Lee did not help his cause with four or five misjudged 'leaves'.
There were rarely more than a couple of points in it in an incredibly tense third game but the world No. 1 looked to at last to be on the verge of his first world title at the age of 28.
But a brave Lin survived match point at 19-20 after an error by his opponent and again at 20-21. When Lee netted on Lin's first match point, the Malaysian dream was over to the huge disappointment of a large following in the arena.
Lin, winner previously in 2006, 2007 and 2009 but beaten in the quarterfinals last year, was reluctant to discuss next year's Olympics. The Chinese second seed quipped: "I want to go sightseeing now. I have orders to go shopping for clothes for my wife and friends while I am here."
China took two more titles with second seed Wang Yihan easing past Chinese Taipei's seventh-seeded Cheng Shao-chieh 21-15, 21-10 in the women's final and top seeds Wang Xiaoli and Yu Yang defeating fifth-seeded compatriots Tian Qing and Zhao Yunlei 22-20, 21-11 in the women's doubles final.
It was more heartache for Lee who had lost heavily to Lin in the Olympic final in Beijing in 2008.
Though the Malaysian extracted some revenge in March, beating Lin in the All England Championships in Birmingham, he had to play second fiddle again and their head-to-head record now stands at 16-8 in favor of the Chinese.
Lin's victory, cheered to the echo by a large and noisy Chinese following in the London arena which will host next year's Olympic event, came at the end of an exhausting 81-minute tussle.
Amid emotional scenes, the winner raced to the crowd, threw his shirt into the seating and hugged his delighted coaches.
A subdued Lee, left to ponder another defeat on a major stage, politely applauded his fans before exiting.
Lin told reporters: "The third game was really emotional. I had to fight hard. On the match points I was just hoping he would make a mistake."
Malaysian singles coach Tay Seu Bock said: "(Lee) missed out on the two match points because at the end of the game he still dared to gamble on his strokes but mentally Lin Dan was a little stronger."
Malaysia has never won a badminton title in any of the five disciplines since the inception of the championships in 1977 but for a while it looked like the sequence might finally be broken.
Lee clinched the first game despite Lin saving four game points from 16-20 down and the Malaysian then led 3-0 in the second.
But once Lin found his stride it always looked as if he could turn the tables and Lee did not help his cause with four or five misjudged 'leaves'.
There were rarely more than a couple of points in it in an incredibly tense third game but the world No. 1 looked to at last to be on the verge of his first world title at the age of 28.
But a brave Lin survived match point at 19-20 after an error by his opponent and again at 20-21. When Lee netted on Lin's first match point, the Malaysian dream was over to the huge disappointment of a large following in the arena.
Lin, winner previously in 2006, 2007 and 2009 but beaten in the quarterfinals last year, was reluctant to discuss next year's Olympics. The Chinese second seed quipped: "I want to go sightseeing now. I have orders to go shopping for clothes for my wife and friends while I am here."
China took two more titles with second seed Wang Yihan easing past Chinese Taipei's seventh-seeded Cheng Shao-chieh 21-15, 21-10 in the women's final and top seeds Wang Xiaoli and Yu Yang defeating fifth-seeded compatriots Tian Qing and Zhao Yunlei 22-20, 21-11 in the women's doubles final.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
