Chinese superstar Lin Dan took the badminton world title for a fifth time Sunday after arch- rival Lee Chong Wei was stretchered off the court in the third game.
The world no. 1 from Malaysia dropped to his haunches at 16-19 down and tried to recover but had to retire at 20-17 — leaving Lin, who is world and Olympic champion, to take the title 16-21, 21-13, 20-17.
Lee had been hoping to end a run of high-profile defeats at the hands of Lin — widely regarded as the game’s best-ever player — who beat him in the previous world title men’s singles final and in the two last Olympic finals.
Lin, 29, known as ‘Super Dan’, was making his comeback at the tournament with a controversial wildcard after a year on the sidelines to spend time with his family.
The two legends put on a brilliant display in the first set, which Lee won, in front of a packed Tianhe gymnasium in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou.
Lin came out fighting in the second, romping to a 11-1 lead with Lee leaving shots to go long that dropped just in. Lee battled to catch up, but Lin took the second 21-13.
Lee came out fighting in the third game with the temperature in the stadium still roasting hot. The battle ended after Lin went 19-16 up in the third with a smash down the line and Lee crouched down on his haunches.
Lee’s legs were sprayed by a doctor, and he won the next point with lightning returns before dropping to the floor again in the middle of the next point.
Ratchanok beats Li in women’s final
Thai teen Ratchanok Intanon took the women’s singles title on Sunday, beating Olympic champion Li Xuerui 22-20, 18-21, 21-14 in a massive upset.
Ratchanok, 18, becomes the first ever Thai player to win gold at the world championships after defeating 22-year-old top seed Li, who was gunning for her first world title.
The three-game thriller was a battle of technical skill and stamina, with Ratchanok pushing a more experienced Li around the court with a sophisticated repertoire of shots.