Copenhagen, Aug 31 (IANS) China’s Chen Long and Spain’s Carolina Marin surprised their opponents in their respective finals to clinch the men’s and women’s singles titles of the World Badminton Championships at the Ballerup Super Arena here Sunday.
The jinx continued for World No.1 Lee Chong Wei at the sport’s most prestigious event as the Malaysian top seed faltered to Chinese second seed Chen 19-21, 19-21 in an hour and nine minutes.
The two-time Olympic silver medallist trailed the second seeded Chen for most of the match. Tentative from the start and unlike his usual bustling, attacking self, Lee found himself parrying Chen’s ferocious attacks at critical moments.
A final kill at the net gave Chen his first World Championship gold medal while his top seeded opponent had to once again settle for the silver for the third time in a row. Lee had also lost the 2011 and 2013 finals to Chen’s compatriot, the legendary Lin Dan while 2012 had no World meet because of the Olympics.
“I have won the Denmark Open in Odense but this is my first World Championship gold medal and I enjoyed this victory. I would like to thank the Danish fans,” said Chen.
Earlier in the day, World No.10 Carolina stunned reigning Olympic champion Li Xuerui of China to become the first European in 15 years to clinch the women’s singles crown.
The ninth seed, who had defeated India’s P.V. Sindhu in the semi-finals Saturday, drubbed World No.1 Li Xuerui 17-21, 21-17, 21-18 in an hour and 18 minutes to notch her first victory over the top seed in four meetings.
Danish great Camilla Martin was the last European to win the World Championships in 1999 which were also held here.
Li Xuerui failed to clinch the coveted title for the second year in a row after losing in last year’s final as well to Thai Ratchanok Intanon.
The Olympic champion had to settle for the silver while losing semi-finalists Sindhu and Japanese Minatsu Mitani went home with the bronze.
Earlier, South Korean 12th seeds Sung Hyun Ko and Baek Choel Shin upset second seeded countrymen Yong Dae Lee and Yeon Seong Yoo 22-20, 21-23, 21-18 to clinch the men’s doubles title.
The women’s doubles title, on the other hand, was taken by Chinese fifth seeds Qing Tian and Yunlei Zhao, who defeated fourth seeded compatriots Xiaoli Wang and Yang Yu 21-19, 21-15.
