WORLDS 2011 Finals – Lin Dan: From super to superb!

Combine all superlative words and put them all together, they will still not be enough to describe the men’s singles final of the 2011 Yonex BWF World Badminton Championships, between world #1 and Malaysian national hero Lee Chong Wei and the most decorated badminton athlete of the decade, China’s Lin Dan.

By Emzi Regala, Badzine Correspondent.  Photos: Badmintonphoto (live)

Lee Chong Wei, determined to get his first-ever World Championship gold, opened the 1^st game serving and found himself leading all the way, never allowing Chinese superstar Lin Dan (pictured) to take the advantage in a tight contest that ended 22-20 in Chong Wei’s favour.

Super Dan found the solution to pacify his opponent. He was able to replicate his successful second game comeback from his semi-final against Peter Gade, with a change in tactics, this time speeding up the game while he worked all four corners of the court.  He broke away right after the interval and took it 21-14.

Then came the moment of truth: the 3^rd and deciding game, two brave hearts fighting for one championship, and neither one would let go.  With the score at 20-19, match point for Lee Chong Wei, the spectators were on the edge of their seats, hearts pounding!

Lin Dan had nerves of steel to save an all-important match point and he invited the world to witness badminton at its best and proved that he is indeed the brightest star that lights the sport.  After an 82-minute battle of wits and skills, Lin Dan earned himself the glory to be crowned World Badminton Champion, the 4^th time around.

“I was just hoping my opponent would make a mistake. I am satisfied to play the extended scores [in the third game]. The third game was very emotional. I had to fight so hard,” said the ecstatic Lin Dan.

“Lee Chong Wei missed 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,” commented Lee Chong Wei’s coach Tay Seu Bock in the post-game interview.

China Dominates Singles

Wang Yihan (pictured) handed the silver medal to the fashion forward Cheng Shao Chieh of Taiwan in the women’s singles Division.  The second seed needed only 40 minutes to post a two-game victory, 21-15, 21-10, reinforcing Chinese dominance in the singles discipline for both sexes.

The two titles brought the total to three after Wang Xiaoli / Yu Yang had won the opening match of the day, the all-Chinese women’s doubles final.  This relegated Zhao Yunlei to hope for the mixed doubles title late in the afternoon.

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