Badminton: Chong Wei claims second Asian title

Malaysian icon Lee Chong Wei battled past home favourite and World No.1 Chen Long in the final to regain his second continental crown after 10 years at the Badminton Asia Championships here on Sunday.

Chong wei defeated the current two-time world champion Chen 21-17, 15-21, 21-13 in a classic performance that lasted an hour and 22 minutes at the Wuhan Sports Center.

It was the 33-year-old Malaysian's 13th win in 25 matches against the 27-year-old Chinese, who was bidding to clinch his first Asian title.

The tournament turned more meorable for world No.2 Chong Wei, who saw off his two fiercest rival in back-to-back games -- five-time world champion and two-time Olympic champion Lin Dan and Chen.

The triumph was also the two-time Olympic silver medallist's third title of the season -- having captured the Malaysian Masters in January and Malaysian Open three weeks ago. It was also his 63rd career title overall.

In the women's singles summit clash, sixth seed Yihan Wang prevailed over top seed Li Xuerui 21-14, 13-21, 21-16 in an all-Chinese contest. It was former world champion Yihan's third continental crown after triumphs in 2011 and 2013.

Moreover, the 28-year-old Yihan took a 10-9 lead in career meetings against the reigning Olympic champion Xuerui.

In the men's doubles final, South Korean top seeded pair of Lee Yong Dae and Yoo Yeon Seong got the better of China's Li Junhui and Liu Yuchen 21-14, 28-26 in 58 minutes.

Japan's women's doubles pair of Misaki Matsutomo and Ayaka Takahashi crushed compatriots Naoko Fukuman and Kurumi Yonao 21-13, 21-15 in 53 minutes.

The mixed doubles title went to the top seeded Chinese combination of Zhang Nan and Zhao Yunlei , who saw off Indonesian second seeds Tontowi Ahmad and Liliyana Natsir 16-21, 21-9, 21-17 in an hour and one minute.

India's campaign ended on Saturday when women's singles star Saina Nehwal lost to Yihan.

--IANS

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