China’s Lin Dan destroys compatriot Tian Houwei to win All-England Open title for the sixth time

Lin Dan, already regarded by many as the greatest badminton player of all time, made another entry into the record books when he regained the All-England Open title and won it for a sixth time on Sunday.

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

Mischievously skilful and tenaciously contentious, he ensured that the outcome of this final was never in doubt.

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

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

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“When I came back [after two long periods away from the game] I tried to prove to the world that I am still the best,” Lin said, appearing to imply that he now thought he was.