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Lin defends title as China makes clean-sweep at Asian champs

Updated: 2011-04-25 09:29

(Xinhua)

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Lin defends title as China makes clean-sweep at Asian champs

Lin Dan of China competes during the men's singles semifinals at the Asian championships in Chengdu, the capital of Southwest China's Sichuan province, April 23, 2011. [Photo/Xinhua]

CHENGDU, Sichuan province - Lin Dan of China defends his title in men's singles as China collected all of the five gold medals on offer for the first time at the Asian championships.

The only non-Chinese shuttlers in these finals were Japanese pair Hirokatsu Hashimoto/Noriyasu Hirata, but the duo was quickly outclassed by Chinese pair Cai Yun/Fu Haifeng 21-12 21-15 in men's doubles final.

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However Li Yongbo, head coach of the Chinese team, was still in calm. "Lots of competitive foreign shuttlers were absent as the competition was not the Olympic qualification, while the Chinese team sent all of its main squad in preparing for the Sudirman Cup to be held next month," he said.

With world top two male shuttlers Lee Chong Wei from Malaysia and Taufik from Indonesia both absent from the tournament, China met little challenge as its shuttlers occupied the top four berths in men's singles.

"Super Dan" beat compatriot Bao Chunlai in straight sets 21-19, 21-13. The reigning Olympic and Asian Games gold medallist dominated the final as he thundered down 42 smash winners, ten more than his old rival Bao, and led all the way in his victory.

Lin didn't count too much on the title, saying "these championships was only a warm-up match, no matter who clinched the title, it is the status that counts more."

In women's singles, second-seeded Wang Yihan met hard resistance from her teammate Lu Lan before she won 21-15, 23-21. Wang had a better start as Lu made too many errors in the first game, but Lu, the former world champion, fought back in the second game by overcoming a four-points deficit to tie for 19-19 and saving two match points afterwards.

Wang converted on her third match points to wrap up the game 23-21 after Lu hit the shuttle into the net. "Lu gave me a lot of pressure, especially in the second game when I was leading by four points," said Wang.

Despite losing in the final, Lu, who has dropped to sixth in the Chinese team rankings and No 27 in the world rankings, announced her revival by beating three of her teammates, including world No 1 Wang Shixian in these championships.

"I suffer a lot after winning the world champion in 2009 due to injury, I have accepted all of these," Lu said, "But no matter how hard, I will try my best to revive."

Yu Yang/Wang Xiaoli made a sweet revenge by defeating Tian Qing/Zhao Yunlei 21-13, 21-10 in women's doubles. Tian/Zhang claimed the women's doubles' title at last year's Guangzhou Asian Games by beating Yu/Wang.

In mixed doubles final, Zhang Nan/Zhao Yunlei won a bitter fight with Xu Chen/Ma Jin 15-21, 21-15, 25-23.

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