Chen Long holds off compatriot Lin Dan to win Malaysia Open
World No 1 proves too good for badminton great in Kuala Lumpur
World number one Chen Long put in a powerful performance on Sunday to defeat his illustrious teammate Lin Dan 20-22, 21-13, 21-11 and win his maiden Malaysia Open title.
Both Chinese shuttlers adopted a cautious approach in the first game, testing each other with long rallies focused mainly on the baseline with the occasional net play.
I performed well in the first game despite losing and was better prepared for the second and third, and I am happy with the win
Lin started the brighter of the two but as the game opened up, both men displayed their attacking prowess, with the highlight being a one and a half minute rally.
But the world number three appeared ragged in the second game as Chen upped the tempo with a flurry of mid-court forehand strikes coupled with some deft touches at the net.
Chen, the reigning world champion, took that form to the decider, racing to a 11-3 advantage before sealing his second title of the year.
“I performed well in the first game despite losing and was better prepared for the second and third, and I am happy with the win,” said Chen, who received $37,500 for his victory.