China’s Chen Long and Spain’s Carolina Marin surprised their opponents in their respective finals to clinch the men’s and women’s singles titles of the World Badminton Championships here on Sunday.
The jinx continued for world No. 1 Lee Chong Wei at the sport’s most prestigious event as the Malaysian top seed was beaten 21-19, 21-19 by the second-seeded Chen in an hour and nine minutes.
The two-time Olympic silver medallist trailed Chen for most of the match. Tentative from the start and unlike his usual bustling, attacking self, Lee found himself parrying Chen’s ferocious attacks at critical moments.
A final kill at the net gave Chen his first world championship gold medal while his top-seeded opponent had to once again settle for the silver, for the third time in a row. Lee had also lost the 2011 and 2013 finals to Chen’s compatriot, the legendary Lin Dan while 2012 had no World meet because of the Olympics.
Earlier in the day, world No. 10 Marin stunned reigning Olympic champion Li Xuerui of China to become the first European in 15 years to clinch the women’s singles crown.
The ninth seed, who had defeated India’s P.V. Sindhu in the semifinals on Saturday, beat world No. 1 Li 17-21, 21-17, 21-18 in an hour and 18 minutes to notch up her first victory over the top seed in four meetings.
Danish great Camilla Martin was the last European to win the world Championships in 1999 which were also held here.
Li failed to clinch the coveted title for the second year in a row after losing in last year’s final as well to Thai Ratchanok Intanon.
The results (finals):
Men’s singles: 2-Chen Long (Chn) bt 1-Lee Chong Wei (Mas) 21-19, 21-19. Doubles: 12-Ko Sung-hyun & Shin Baek-choel (Kor) bt 2-Lee Yong-dae & Yoo Yeon-seong (Kor) 22-20, 21-23, 21-18.
Women’s singles: 9-Carolina Marin (Esp) bt 1-Li Xuerui (Chn) 17-21, 21-17, 21-18. Doubles: 5-Tian Qing & Zhao Yunlei (Chn) bt 4-Wang Xiaoli & Yu Yang (Chn) 21-19, 21-15.
