Jiangsu: Two-time Olympic champion Lin Dan kicked off 2016 with a remarkable run of winning 2 consecutive titles at German Open and the All England Open, then he failed in India Open, Malaysia Open and Singapore Open.
The Chinese badminton maestro showed that he is still dangerous, hungry and capable of being a threat to win a major tournament on Sunday when he claimed his sixth China Masters badminton crown by defeating his compatriot World No. 1 Chen Long 21-17, 23-21 in 65 minutes at the Changzhou Olympic Centre in Jiangsu, China.
Lin Dan previously won the China Masters in 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2014, while Chen Long won it in 2011 and 2012. Lin Dan’s China Masters victory can set the tone for Lin Dan to capture his third Olympic gold medal in the Rio Olympics in August.
World No. 1 men’s pair Lee Yong-Dae/Yoo Yeon-Seong exacted their revenge on compatriots Kim Gi-Jung/Kim Sa-Rang, taking down the No. 3 seeds in straight sets, winning 21-17, 21-14 in 41 minutes. The two pairs last met two weeks ago at the Malaysia Open, where Kim Gi-Jung/Kim Sa-Rang defeated Lee Yong-Dae/Yoo Yeon-Seong 21-16, 21-12 in the semi-final encounter.
In women’s competition, No. 1 seed Li Xuerui needed 63 minutes to knock off her junior and No. 5 seed Sun Yu 21-16, 19-21, 21-6 to win her first China Masters title.
In a 85-minute marathon match, the Luo sisters – Luo Ying and Luo Yu came from behind after dropping a set to overcome compatriots Chen Qingchen/Jia Yifan 16-21, 21-15, 21-18 to clinch their second China Masters title.
Xu Chen-Ma Jin who won the China Masters title in 2011 and 2012, saw off their younger junior compatriots Zheng Siwei-Chen Qingchen in 35 minutes with 21-17, 21-15.
Results of China Masters finals:
Men’s singles
Lin Dan (Chn) beat Chen Long (Chn) 21-17, 23-21
Men’s doubles
Lee Yong-dae-Yoo Yeon-seong (Kor) beat Kim Gi-jung-Kim Sa-rang (Kor) 21-17, 21-14
Women’s singles
Li Xuerui (Chn) beat Sun Yu (Chn) 21-16, 19-21, 21-6
Women’s doubles
Luo Ying-Luo Yu (Chn) beat Chen Qingchen-Jia Yifan (Chn) 16-21, 21-15, 21-18
Mixed doubles
Xu Chen-Ma Jin (Chn) beat Zheng Siwei-Chen Qingchen 21-17, 21-15
