Top Chinese badminton player Lin Dan bowed out to compatriot and fellow Olympian Chen Long during the finals of the men's singles event of the Badminton Asia Championships on Sunday.
Ran out of steam
Lin and Chen were evenly matched for the most part of their finals meeting, with the former taking the first set. However, Chen mounted an intense 10-8 rally during the second set, allowing him to get enough momentum to win the game 21-23, 21-11, First Post reported.
The win is the 28-year-old Chen's first victory at the Asian Championships and his first tournament win after grabbing the gold in the Olympics men's single event last year. It also increases the prospects of him being able to compete at the World Championships.
Chen is currently ranked ninth in the international standings, with three other players, including Lin, ahead of him.
Under the world championship rules, a country can only enter four players in the competition if they are all in the top eight positions. However, as China does not often rely on the rankings in selecting the players it will field, Chen still has a shot at a possible spot.
Meanwhile, Lin's loss cut short his bid to grab a fifth Asian title. He earlier beat world number one player Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia in the semis but was not able to outclass Chen.
Commentators noted that Chen was able to match Lin's plays due to them having practiced together during national camps.
Japan, Taiwan grab gold
In the women's singles, Tai Tzu-ying bested Japanese Akane Yamaguchi 18-21, 21-11, 21-18 to grab Taiwan's first Asian Championship gold.
Meanwhile, the Olympic tandem of Misaki Matsutomo and Ayaka Takahashi defeated their Korean rivals to keep the women's doubles crown in the hands of Japan, Channel News Asia reported.
China took control of both the men's doubles and the mixed doubles to complete their conquest.