It was a first gold medal for world No.2 Chen, who won bronze at London 2012, but a third straight silver for the top-ranked Lee.
Advertisement
The defeat was relatively straightforward and most of us would agree that Chen Long deserved his gold medal triumph.
Saturday’s third-place match loss to Axelsen was nearly certainly the last time that Lin, who turns 33 later this year, would grace the Olympic stage. Marin, the world No. 1 and heavy favorite ahead of the Rio Games, also beat Li Xuerui, the defending Olympic champion from China, to get to the gold medal match. “No matter what, I will always have his back”, the teary-eyed Ah Chai said after watching the Rio Olympics badminton final at his home in Batu Kawan here yesterday.
Twice world champion Chen Long played masterfully to edge the top seed 21-18 21-18 at the Riocentro, but Lee, 33, was below his best, squandering solid leads in each game to bow out with a third successive loss in three Olympic finals.
He’d already banished demons by beating Lin Dan in a thrilling semi-final on Friday to set up the clash with Chen Long.
Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen celebrates after defeating China’s Lin Dan to win the men’s badminton singles bronze medal match at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, Aug. 20, 2016.
China have now won four of the seven Olympic men’s singles tournaments since the sport was introduced onto the programme at Barcelona 1992 following this shock result in a match Lee started as the favourite as the world number one.
Lin admitted he felt exhausted going into the decisive third set havinglost to Lee in a marathon semi-final the day before.
But the Chinese heads into the sunset having previously won two Olympic golds and with his place in the pantheon of badminton greats assured.
“I have to accept that my Olympics career ends with silver”, said the three-time silver medallist in his fourth Olympics.
Minutes after the medal presentation ceremony, The New Paper asked him what he was going through his mind, and he said: “I just want to rest”.
“I believe that both of us have spared no efforts in fighting for this gold medal”.
He said: “I hope that I can work with schools and states, encourage young players and pique their interest in the sport”.
Advertisement
“But I’m really, really happy that I managed to do this”.
