World number one Lin Dan of China lifted his first Yonex All
England Badminton Championships trophy Sunday after beating Dane
Peter Gade in an intense men's final.
The women's singles final, however, was an all-Chinese affair
for the seventh time in the past eight years as former world
champion Gong Ruina defeated defending champion Zhou Mi 11-7,
11-7.
Lin, 20, came from behind in his clash against the 1999 champion
to win 9-15, 15-5, 15-8 to a sell-out crowd of 4,500.
Lin, dubbed "Super Dan" by Chinese reporters, soared to the top
position in the world by claiming five titles in six tournaments
including the All England since September last year.
Though the Chinese top seed struggled to find a rhythm early in
the final, he powered through the second set and then led 14-3 in
the decider as Gade battled to keep pace.
"I was a bit nervous in the first game but I used a different
method from then on and it was fine," said Lin.
The Dane managed to stave off one match point and then staged a
mini-rally but Lin finished it off in 77 minutes with his trademark
cross-court smash.
Gade, 27, approaching his best after a serious knee injury kept
him out of the sport for over a year, was far from disgraced and
both men look to be serious medal contenders at August's Olympics
in Athens.
Gade, who lost to Lin at last week's Swiss Open, said he was
disappointed, but that he would take would he could away from the
tournament and use it preparing for the Olympics.
The women's doubles title also went to China but the spectators
were disappointed knowing the final would be a walkover.
In an all-Chinese final, top seeds Yang Wei and Zhang Jiewen
were due to meet titleholders Gao Ling and Huang Sui, but Zhang
pulled out with a hamstring injury.
Fourth seeded Danish pair Jens Eriksen and Martin Lundgaard
Hansen did their part for Europe as they pushed aside Choong Tan
Fook and Lee Wan Wah from Malaysia 9-15, 15-13, 15-3 in the men's
doubles final.
Kim Dong-moon and Ra Kyung-min sailed to the expected victory in
an all-South Korea mixed doubles final, beating Kim Yong-hyun and
Lee Hyo-jung.
The winning South Korean pair has been rated the biggest
favorite in the Athens Olympic Games in August as they have
achieved a winning streak of 12.
The All England was one of the final tournaments in which
competitors could claim qualifying points for this summer's Olympic
Games in Athens.
(Xinhua New Agency March 15, 2004)