Chen, world champion in form in Dubai final

Runner-up Hans-Kristian Vittinghus and champion Chen Long with Poul-Erik Hoyer, BWF president, IOC member; Saeed Hareb, general secretary, Dubai Sports Council; and Theo Alexandrescu, MetLife general manager; at the awards ceremony. — Photo by Rahul Gajjar/ Khaleej Times

Dubai — World champion Chen Long hit imperious form to stop graceful Hans-Kristian Vittinghus 21-16, 21-10 to claim the men’s singles crown in the inaugural $1 million MetLife Destination Dubai World Superseries Finals, at the Hamdan Sports Stadium, Sunday night.

Chinese Taipei prodigy Tai Tzu Ying, who has the best backhand on the Tour, won the women’s singles crown in similar fashion with an authoritative 21-17, 21-12 triumph over surprise finalist Sung Ji-Hyun of South Korea in the penultimate fixture of the five-day championships that began on December 17. The all-Chinese mixed doubles final between Zhang Nan/Zhao Yunlei and Liu Cheng/ Bao Yixin was slotted for a late night start.

China’s Chen hitting amazing form is not news but maintaining it consistently without a hitch with the kind of sharpness and tactical superiority that he showed here, is what sets him apart from the rest of field.

Chen said: “Vittinghus played brilliantly but in short spells. From China we have many players like me and we want to improve with every trip and event, I hope to return next year, this time.”

Credit has to be given to Denmark’s Vittinghus who showed great reflexes, agility and defensive mechanisms but he had to confront the new emperor of the sport. Chen has the distinction of being both World and Superseries champion at the same time like the previous king of badminton, the one and only Lin Dan, also from China. Chen began far more impressively in set one compared to the sluggish starts he made in his three matches prior to the championship round, on Sunday.

Vittinghus has a lot of variations and a telling half smash that can go either way with a late flick and turn of the wrist.

Set one was Chen’s after he stopped Vittinghus’s fine run till 6-6 to go ahead to 14-8 and then to match point, after the Dane clawed his way to 14.By now the red hot Chen was in total command and in the second visit to the hova surface, Vittinghus despite all he tried after leading 8-6, was not allowed much elbow room both in the lateral and vertical movements.

The word spectacular is an understatement to describe men’s doubles badminton at the highest level. That is what the appreciative Dubai crowd was served with as starters in the five course menu on the final day. The opening fixture – the men’s doubles title round saw the issue stretched to the limit, the scores going in favour of the redoubtable South Koreans — Lee Yong Dae/Yoo Yeon Seong — at 19-21, 2-19, 21-16 in one hour and 20 minutes of intriguing exchange of shots, drops and fearsome high jump smashes on the show court.

The Koreans who beat the same Chinese duo of Chai Biao/Hong Wei at the China Open three weeks ago, were in total command (18-11) in the third set after the first set wobble. The second was touch and go, but the peninsular men were able to out think the mainland aces, clad in the standard fluorescent lemon green and black of the contingent.

Misaki Matsutomo and Ayaka Takahashi gave Japan a big boost with an upset 21-17, 21-14 vitory in the women’s doubles title clash. China’s Tian Qing and veteran Zhao Yunlei were just not up to the mark on a day when the Japanese bombardment from the middle and at the net were deadly accurate.

moni@khaleejtimes.com