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Lee Chong Wei beats 'Super Dan' to keep All England crown

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-03-15 09:38

China's Lin Dan reacts after losing to Malaysia's Lee Chong Wei in the men's singles final in All England Open Badminton Championship 2011 at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham, Britain, March 13, 2011. [Photo/titan24.com]

BIRMINGHAM - World number one Lee Chong Wei from Malaysia defended his All England Badminton title after beating China's Olympic champion Lin Dan in straight games on Sunday.

Lee dominated the clash with Lin, never giving the four-time world champion any chance to take the lead. After Lin hit back the shuttle outside the line, Lee excitedly threw himself on his knees in celebrating a victory of 21-17, 21-17.

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"I've never thought that I could win over Lin in straight games," said the 28-year-old. "I just tried to focus on every point and Lin was obviously not in his top form."

Lee, improving his head to head record against Lin to 8-15, said he was much more eager to win the title at the world championships this year as he has never took victory in the annual competition.

Earlier, the women's singles world number one Wang Shixian from China defeated Japanese Eriko Hirose in straight games, clinching her first title at the All England Open.

Wang, 21, started the opening game well by leading 17-12, but her tough opponent Hirose then took five points in a row. "I felt a little bit nervous after the tie in 17-17," said Wang, who climbed to the top of the world standings this year. "But then I tried my best to stay calm, then the match went well."

Malaysia's Lee Chong Wei (R) poses with China's Lin Dan during the awarding ceremony for the men's singles final in All England Open Badminton Championship 2011 at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham, Britain, March 13, 2011.[Photo/Xinhua]

The Asian Games champion Wang edged off Hirose 24-22 in the first game before took the second 21-18.

The Chinese powerhouse also grabbed the gold in the women's and mixed doubles.

The third seed Wang Xiaoli and Yu Yang smashed Japanese pair Mizuki Fujii and Reika Kakiiwa 21-2, 21-9 before Xu Chen and Ma Jin outplayed Sudket Prapakamol and Saralee Thoungthongkam from Thailand 21-13, 21-9.

In the men's doubles final, last year's runner-ups Mathias Boe and Carsten Mogensen from Denmark came from behind to beat Malaysian Koo Kien-keat and Tan Boon-heong, 15-21, 21-18, 21-18.