Chinese badminton player Lin Dan. (Photo : Getty Images)
World no. 4 Lin Dan of China crushed compatriot Tian Houwei in straight sets, 21-9, 21-10, to capture the title in the final of the 2016 All England Badminton Super Series held at the Barclaycard Arena in Birmingham, England on Sunday.
It was the sixth All England badminton championship for the 32-year-old veteran as he played without tension, zooming to a 4-0 lead in both sets en route to the title, as reported by Fox Sports.
The report said that "there were no yells of joy or frustration, just a couple of fist pumps, and Lin could afford to play to the crowd and still win the next point". It was arguably the easiest match in the tournament for the Fujian, China native ironically, as it was the first time since the first round that he was able to beat an opponent in straight sets.
Lin advanced to the finals by beating another countryman, Xue Song, 18-21, 21-15, and 21-9, in the semifinals. He qualified in the semis through a rough 10-21, 21-9, 21-15 victory over world no. 5 Jan Ø. Jørgensen of Denmark.
His road to the finals was indeed tougher than the actual title match, but it surely made no difference for the former world no. 1 as he hoisted his sixth trophy in the event.
"I wanted to show everyone that at 33, I will still be able to do it," said Lin, who is considered by many as the greatest badminton player of all time, as per the Straits Times. "When I came back (after two long periods away from the game), I tried to prove to the world that I am still the best. I'm pleased with the fitness that I have."
Lin won the gold medals in the badminton men's singles events of the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London summer Olympic Games before making two lengthy breaks in 2013 and 2014 because of injuries.
Aside from being a six-time All England champion and two-time Olympic gold medal winner, he is also a five-time world champion, winning the World Championships in 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, and 2013. He is also the only player to win all nine major world badminton titles and he did it at age 28.
Lin is said to be going for a record third Olympic gold medal in the Rio Games in August of this year as the multi-titled badminton star had always been the subject of retirement rumors in the past years.
