China became the first nation in 61 years to win all five titles at the All England Open Championships.
Wang Yihan won the women’s singles in her second All England tournament and Lin Dan won his fourth men’s singles title in six consecutive finals appearances when he repeated his Olympic victory over top-ranked Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia.
China also captured the three doubles titles through He Hanbin and Yu Yang in the mixed, Zhang Yawen and Zhao Tingting in an all-Chinese women’s doubles final and former world champions Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng in the men’s doubles.
PHOTO: AFP
China became the first nation since Denmark in 1948 to win all five titles at the All England.
Lin Dan let slip leads of 10-6 and 16-12 in the first game as Lee Chong Wei edged 19-17 ahead. But the Malaysian then lost focus and Lin Dan took the opening game before running away with the second to secure a 21-19, 21-12 victory.
Olympic bronze medalists He and Yu defeated Ko Sung-hyun and Han Jung-eun of South Korea 13-21, 21-15, 21-9 in the mixed doubles final.
Zhang, the 2007 women’s doubles winner with Wei Yili, took that title with new partner Zhao Tingting when they overcame teammates Cheng Shu and Zhao Yunlei 21-13, 21-15.
Wang Yihan added the All England title to last weekend’s German Open victory, proving too calm and strong for defending champion Tine Rasmussen. That denied the Dane a third Super Series title in a row following January wins in South Korea and Malaysia.
China had won four titles in 2005 but the elusive fifth title came their way on Sunday when former world champions Cai and Fu defeated Han Sang-hoon and Hwang Ji-man of South Korea 21-17, 21-15.
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