“I think this is my first time to beat Lin Dan at a big competition”. It was delivered to the Malaysian a few hours after their epic semi-final clash had ended in a three-game victory for the perennial handmaiden Lee by the proverbial rat’s whisker, at 22-20 in the decider; and the two arch-rivals had embraced and exchanged sweat-soaked T-shirts.
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With the expectation of the whole national on his shoulder, Chong Wei who won the toss to serve, quickly went 4-0 down before he recovered his composure to draw level with one service and took a 5-4 lead.
This time in Rio, similar history had seemed to repeat itself when Lin sailed to a first set win 21-15 easily in the semifinals. And I lost twice in the 2008 and 2012 finals to him.
Sindhu, in her first Olympics, entered the pre-quarters with a grueling 72-minute win over Canada’s Michelle Li 21-19, 21-15, setting up a very tough match against the London Olympics silver medalist Yihan Wang of China.
Unfortunately for Lee, Lin Dan’s fellow-countryman stood implacably in his path to the gold, like the insurmountable Great Wall of China. Although he is now the best badminton player in the world, the Malaysian athlete has never won the major title.
“I’ve told Chong Wei: ‘If you can win using less energy and less power that’s better.’ In crucial points, it’s up to him, he can do what he wants, use more or less power”.
Lee Chong Wei suffered heartbreak at the Olympics again as he found himself falling at the final hurdle for the third straight Games.
Chinese superstar Lin Dan, regarded by some as badminton’s greatest-ever player, batted off retirement talk after leaving the Rio Games empty-handed Saturday with a bronze-medal-match defeat to Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen.
For much of their careers, Lin had been Lee’s bogeyman, having a comprehensive winning record against the 33-year-old Malaysian.
“Today leaves me with some regrets”, said Lee, putting on a courageous face following his 21-18, 21-18 defeat to second-ranked Chen, who became Olympic champion for the first time. Chen’s smashes more often found the lines for winners and his subtle net shots often had Lee flustered.
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“We still need a gold medal and I hope in 2020 in Tokyo we can achieve that”, said Lee, who added that he had no words for the Malaysian people following his loss. China, who swept all five titles at London, celebrated their first gold in the tournament after being frustrated in the women’s doubles and singles, and the mixed doubles. “Of course I feel it’s a pity, it’s my third silver at three Games”.
