BADMINTON

Lin Dan of China saluting after winning the gold medal in the men's badminton singles against Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia (Beawiharta/Reuters)
OLYMPICS BADMINTON
Lin Dan of China defeats Malaysia's Lee Chong in men's final
The Associated Press
Published: August 17, 2008
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Lin Dan of China overpowered Malaysia's Lee Chong Wei in straight sets Sunday to win the gold medal in men's singles at the Olympic badminton tournament.
Top-seed Lin was in control from the outset and coasted to a 21-12, 21-8 win over the second-seeded Lee to give China its third gold medal in badminton.
"I think tonight's match was one of the best I've played in my career," said Lin. "Before the games, I had many sleepless nights. Now I can sleep well."
Lin took an 11-1 lead in the second game with Lee's only point coming on an unforced error by Lin.
Lee was bidding for Malaysia's first gold medal in the Olympics but was no match for Lin, who won the match with a smash down the line that Lee returned into the net.
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After he won, Lin embraced coach Li Yongbo. He then took off his shoes and threw them into the crowd.
Lin, nicknamed 'Super Dan,' was top-seed in Athens four years ago but lost in the first round. He didn't lose a single game in his five matches here and kept his notorious temper in check.
China also won three out of five gold medals at the 2004 Athens Games.
Zhang Ning won women's singles and Du Jing and Yu Yang won gold in women's doubles.
Lee beat Lin at the Thomas Cup in May and last year at the Japan Open, but Sunday's final between badminton's two top men's players was a mismatch.
"Lin Dan played very well and there was no chance for him to lose tonight," said Lee.
The only disappointment for Lin in the badminton tournament was that his girlfriend Xie Xingfang failed to win gold. Xie had to settle for silver after losing to Zhang in the women's final.
Lin wore a small golden pin on his uniform bearing a likeness of Chairman Mao Zedong, the founder of communist China.
Lin said he visited Mao's hometown before the games and paid his respects at his statue.
"I must pay another visit," said Lin.
In mixed doubles, South Korea's Lee Hyo Jung and Lee Yong Dae won the gold medal, defeating Indonesia's Liliyana Natsir and Nova Widianto in straight sets.
The unseeded South Koreans defeated the top-seeded Indonesians 21-11, 21-17.
The South Koreans grabbed a 9-2 lead in the second game, taking advantage of unforced errors by the Indonesians. Lee Hyo Jung's smash made it 11-4 at the break.
Natsir and Widianto rallied to pull within two points but a pair of powerful smashes by Lee Yong Dae sealed the medal for the South Koreans.
It was South Korea's third medal of the badminton tournament.
China's Yu Yang and He Hanbin won the bronze medal with 19-21, 21-17, 23-21 win over Indonesia's Flandy Limpele and Vita Marissa.
Yu and He, who were fourth-seeded, recovered from an 11-7 deficit in the third game and won the match when Marissa's smash from the front of the court went into the net.

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