GUANGZHOU, China (AP) — Lin Dan of China has become the first man to win five world badminton championship singles titles Sunday as his archrival Lee Chong Wei retired on the brink of defeat in the final.
The left-handed Lin, considered the best player in the history of the sport, prevailed 16-21, 21-13, 20-17 over his top-seeded Malaysian adversary, whom he most recently beat in London last year for a second consecutive Olympic gold.
Lin committed a number of errors in the opening game but he made a dramatic comeback, taking a 12-1 lead in the second game which he won with ease.
The deciding game was more evenly fought but Lee looked troubled in the latter part and conceded the advantage to Lin, who also became the first ever wild card entrant to win.
