KUALA LUMPUR: World number one Datuk Lee Chong Wei defeated archrival Lin Dan of China in the final of the Japan Super Series 2010 at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium, Japan Sunday.
According to www.tournamentsoftware.com Chong Wei took an hour and 22 minutes before finally overcoming Lin Dan in 22-20, 16-21, 21-17
The championship offered total prize money of US$200,000.
Meanwhile, Malaysia's top doubles pair Koo Kien Keat/Tan Boon Heong lost to Cai Yun/Fu Haifeng of China 21-18, 14-21, 12-21 in the men's doubles final.
The top-seeded Malaysian, who reached the final without losing a game, needed a tough 81 minutes before scoring a 22-20, 16-21, 21-17 victory over the three-time former world champion.
In the women’s, unseeded 2002 world junior champion Jiang Yanjiao, who eliminated fellow Chinese Lu Lan and Wang Shixian on her way to the final, shocked world number one Wang Xin 23-21, 21-18 to claim the title.
“This is my second victory in the Japan Open. I targeted my goal this year to win the All England and the Japan Open, so I’m very happy that I won both of them,” said Lee.
“I couldn’t play well in the Thomas Cup and I got an injury in Paris and failed to win the world championships. Now I’m going to aim at the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games in November.”
Lin, winner here in 2005 and 2006, used his unstoppable smashes to even the contest at one game each, hitting a sudden attack at the net at 20-16 in the second.
But Lee kept a narrow lead in the final game, and although he was close to be tied at 11-10 and 15-14, took four points in a row to lead 19-15.
Lee took a commanding 20-17 lead when Lin hit an overhead wide, and finished off the struggling Chinese with a backhand winner.
“I changed the rhythm in the final game and increased the speed of the shuttle to lead 11-7. I didn’t rush too much when I was close to be tied and tried to keep attacking at my pace,” said Lee, 27.
