almost repeating my words

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BADMINTON: Lin Dan still a class above
By K.M. Boopathy
2008/11/24
CHINA'S Olympic champion Lin Dan made a triumphant return to the international stage when he thumped World No 1 Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia to win the China Open in Shanghai yesterday. Chong Wei's fiery start failed to rattle Lin Dan, playing in his first tournament since winning Olympic gold in Beijing in August, who won 21-18, 21-9 in 39 minutes.
It was not to be Malaysia's day as earlier women's doubles Wong Pei Tty-Chin Eei crashed to China's Zhang Yawen-Zhao Tingting 21-14, 21-19 in 45 minutes.
The crowd, however, had anticipated an exciting rematch of the Olympics final and for a while, Chong Wei and Lin Dan gave them hope.
In fact, Chong Wei gave the Malaysian camp some hope when he led 7-3 but Lin Dan soon found his rhythm and strung five points to lead 8-7.
The Malaysian, to his credit, didn't panic and kept his composure to again lead 15-12 but his opponent moved up a gear to rattle off four points in a row to regain the lead and take control. LOL, they stole my gearing analogy
The second game turned purely academic when Lin Dan raced away to a 11-3 lead and continued his irrepressible form to bag his fourth title of the year.
Chong Wei, in a telephone interview from Shanghai, said Lin Dan was still fast despite competing in his first tournament in three months.
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I played confidently in the beginning and but could not cope with Lin Dan's speed. In fact, I had performed well overall here compared to my previous tournaments," said Chong Wei.
"I'm still not playing the best I can and reaching the final is a good achievement as I've been struggling a bit. I have not decided on competing in the Hong Kong Open but even if I miss it, I will still be able to maintain the World No 1 position."
Lin Dan earned US$18,500 (RM67,340) while Chong Wei had to be content with US$7,500 (RM27,300).
Pei Tty-Eei Hui, despite their defeat, can walk tall as they will now reach a career high World No 2 this week after an impressive run where they have reached the final of their last three Super Series events.
Olympic champions Lee Yong Dae-Lee Hyo Jung, also playing in their first competition after an absence, beat China's Xu Chen-Zhao Yunlei 21-16, 21-15 for the mixed doubles title.
Yong Dae added the men's doubles title to his collection when he partnered Jung Jae Sung to beat Denmark's Mathias Boe-Carsten Mogensen 17-21, 21-17, 21-13.
RESULTS -- (All Finals) Men's Singles: Lin Dan (Chn) bt Lee Chong Wei (Mas) 21-18, 21-9.
Doubles: Jung Jae Sung-Lee Yong Dae (Kor) bt Mathias Boe-Carsten Mogensen (Den) 17-21, 21-17, 21-13.
Women's Singles: Jiang Yanjiao (Chn) bt Zhu Jingjing (Chn) 21-15, 21-13.
Doubles: Zhang Yawen-Zhao Tingting (Chn) bt Wong Pei Tty-Chin Eei Hui (Mas) 21-14, 21-19.
Mixed Doubles: Lee Yong Dae-Lee Hyo Jung (Kor) bt Xu Chen-Zhao Yunlei 21-16, 21-15.
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