Chen Long crowned as the men's singles champion at the All England Championships
Last Updated: 08/03/15 6:34pm
Chen Long eventually sealed victory over Jan Jorgensen in a tense men’s singles final at the All England Badminton Championships.
China’s world champion spurned four championship points against the Dane, but his persistence finally paid off in the 15-21, 21-17, 21-15 win.
Chen had clinched his place in the final with a semi-final victory over Lin Dan and is determined to match his compatriot’s tally of five titles in Birmingham.
"Jorgensen is tough but Lin Dan is right up there," he said. "Lin Dan is on the highest level.
"I want to catch Lin Dan's record, but for the moment physical condition is the most important thing. I need to keep healthy and not get injured."
Carolina Marin, another world champion, secured the women's singles title after battling back to claim victory over Saina Nehwal.
The 24-year-old from Hyderabad held leads of 6-1 and 10-6 in the second, but Marin staged a determined rally to win 16-21, 21-14, 21-7 in just over an hour.
Reflecting on her victory, the Spaniard admitted she struggled with nerves, but still managed to thwart Nehwal’s bid to become India’s first female winner.
"I was making too many easy mistakes and was really nervous at the start, so I wanted to enjoy it after that," Marin said.
"In the second game and at 11-9 down I felt there was a change and that I could win."
China's Zhang Nan and Zhao Yunlei, the world and Olympic champions, beat Tontowi Ahmad and Liliyana Natsir of Indonesia 21-10, 21-10 to clinch the mixed doubles' title.
All-England Open badminton final results in Bimingham on Sunday (seeds in CAPS):
Men's singles
1-CHEN L (Chn) bt 2-J JORGENSEN (DEN) 25-21, 21-17, 21-15
Women's singles
6-C MARIN (Spa) bt 3-S NEHWAL (Ind) 16-21, 21-14, 21-7
Mixed doubles
1-ZHANG N/ZHAO Y (Chn) bt 4-T AHMAD/ L NATSIR (Ind) 21-10, 21-10
