Limp Lin dethroned as All England champion

AFP, BIRMINGHAM: Lin Dan, the three-times Olympic champion, lost his men's singles title at the All-England Open with a bewilderingly limp straight games semi-final defeat to his fellow Chinese player Shi Yuqi.
The man regarded as the greatest player of all time briefly held two game points at 20-18 in the first game against the unseeded Shi, before slipping quietly away to a 24-22, 21-10 defeat.
Lin's deflating loss ended hopes of another final showdown between the veteran greats -- the 33-year-old Lin, and the 34-year-old world number one from Malaysia, Lee Chong Wei, who had already reached the final.
“My condition is not very good,” said Lin though he had looked in good shape while coming from a game down to beat Viktor Axelsen, the World Super Series champion from Denmark, the night before. “I am proud of the way I am still able to play at this level at my age.”
Four-time champion Lee reached the final for a seventh time by recovering from a worrying start to beat Chiu Tien Chen of Taiwan 10-21, 21-14, 21-9.

Limp Lin dethroned as All England champion

AFP, BIRMINGHAM: Lin Dan, the three-times Olympic champion, lost his mens singles title at the All-England Open with a bewilderingly limp straight games semi-final defeat to his fellow Chinese player Shi Yuqi. The man regarded as the greatest player of all time briefly held two game points at 20-18 in the first game against the unseeded Shi, before slipping quietly away to a 24-22, 21-10 defeat. Lins deflating loss ended hopes of another final showdown between the veteran greats -- the 33-year-old Lin, and the 34-year-old world number one from Malaysia, Lee Chong Wei, who had already reached the final. My condition is not very good, said Lin though he had looked in good shape while coming from a game down to beat Viktor Axelsen, the World Super Series champion from Denmark, the night before. I am proud of the way I am still able to play at this level at my age. Four-time champion Lee reached the final for a seventh time by recovering from a worrying start to beat Chiu Tien Chen of Taiwan 10-21, 21-14, 21-9.