'Super Dan' retains title but looking at bigger picture
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Chinese ace Lin Dan retained his Badminton Asia Championships men’s singles title but has his eyes firmly fixed on bigger prizes.
The reigning Olympic and Asian Games gold medallist Lin dominated the match as he thundered down 42 smash winners, ten more than his old rival Bao, and led all the way in his 21-19, 21-13 victory.
As the Sudirman Cup will be held next month in Qing Dao, Shan Dong province, Lin didn't count too much on the title, saying "these championships was only a warm-up match, no matter who clinched the title, it is the status that counts more."
With world top two male shuttlers Lee Chong Wei from Malaysia and Taufik from Indonesia both absent from the competition, China met few challenge as its shuttlers occupied the top four berths.
"Because my major foreign opponents didn't come, my teammate became my arch rival. I gradually found my form, which I think is the most crucial gain from these championships," added Lin.
