CHINA NATIONAL GAMES - Lin Dan enters History...again

Sunday, 18 October 2009 22:47

Four years after his first success in China’s biggest badminton tournament after the Olympics, Lin Dan beat the very same player in the final – Bao Chunlai – to once again enter history by being the first man to clinch back-to-back individual titles at the National Games.

By Timothy Chan, Badzine Correspondent. Photos: China Foto Press (live)

Once again, like 4 years ago, Lin Dan was to meet Bao in the China National Games men's singles final. Bao had beaten Hu Yun of Hongkong 21-14, 21-6 in the semi-final. After he had sustained a knee injury earlier this year, Bao made a magnificent recovery and came back to win the Asian Championship title in April, following that up with two Super Series title, at the Aviva Singapore Open in June and the Yonex Japan Open last month.

A record high turn-out of 10,000 fans in Qingdao were treated to the much-anticipated Bao-Lin showdown on the last day of the individual event competition which has reached its climax on this beautiful Sunday.

chinagames-lin.celebrating

In the first game, Lin started well to take a 4-0 lead and continued to maintain the lead to win at 21-10. Capitalising on his speed and attacking play, defending champion Lin gave Bao no chance at all, taking an eleven-point lead and eventually winning the match easily at 21-3, thus becoming the first player in National Games history to defend his title. Lin Dan, of course, can add this record to his three consecutive world championship titles as well as his Olympic crown.

Chen Jin had earlier failed in his golden pursuit to help add another gold medal to the Jiangsu medal tally when he was defeated by Lin Dan in a three-game 82-minute showdown in the semi-final, 21-17, 15-21, 21-7. This was a replay of the semi-final at the last National Games when Lin also defeated Chen to advance into the final and finally captured the title after beating Bao Chunlai from Hunan. Chen Jin was later to get the Bronze Medal – a remake of Beijing Olympics.

Men’s Doubles

Just like it happened in the team event semi-final, national team-mates Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng faced one another again in the individual men’s doubles final. Finally, Cai Yun, partnering Xu Chen, won a third gold for Jiangsu, after defeating Fu, who partnered Chen Qiqiu instead of his usual partner at the Games, Zhu Lihua. Cai/Xu won the first game at 21-16 and went on to win the second game at 21-15. According to Cai Yun, he is very happy that he had actually achieved what Jiangsu’s head coach Sun Zhian had achieved, that is winning two gold medals in the National Games. Cai Yun had earlier helped Jiangsu to captured the team event gold.

When a reporter asked Cai Yun about the “Feng Yun” partnership participation in the 2012 London Olympics. Cai Yun replied that it was not something for him to think about at this present moment. He said that in the next three years, anything unpredictable may happen. He would prefer to look at the short term and be realistic. Knowing that he will soon be into his 30s and going downhill soon, he would like to enjoy every single moment of his current playing days.

3.26 Copyright (C) 2008 Compojoom.com / Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."