Lin Dan clinches sixth title

Lin Dan, already regarded by many as the greatest player of all time, made another entry into the record books with an overwhelming performance to recpature his sixth All-England Open title on Sunday.

Lin’s 21-9, 21-10 victory over his compatriot Tian Houwei was a thrilling rebuttal to critics who reckoned that, now aged 32 and with a mere handful of titles in the past three years, the Chinese legend is really only a past master.

Instead Lin suggested a record third Olympic men’s singles gold medal could well be possible in Rio de Janeiro in five months’ time.

“I wanted to show everyone that at 33 I will still be able to do it,” he said.

It was four years since Lin last won the All-England, but his total of men’s singles titles here now has only been surpassed by Rudy Hartono, the great Indonesian, who won eight.

That though was more than 40 years ago and in the pre-professional era.

If this is Lin’s last appearance here at the world’s oldest international tournament, it was a suitably excellent way to say good-bye.

Mischievously skilful, tenaciously contentious, and consistently fluent he ensured the outcome was never in doubt.

Almost within moments he was 7-1 up and was playing with an intensity of focus greater than anything previously this week.

Tian tried to hustle him a little and got back to 7-11 but it was almost impossible to escape the web created by the patient accuracy of Lin’s clears, lifts and net shots.