Lin Dan claimed his fifth All England Open Championship title after arch-rival Lee Chong Wei pulled out injured.
Final ends as anti-climax due to Lee injury
China's Lin Dan claimed his fifth Yonex All England Open Championship title after arch-rival and defending champion Lee Chong Wei pulled out injured on Sunday.
Lin, the reigning Olympic and world champion, was leading 21-19 6-2 when top seed Lee, who was bidding for a third successive Birmingham crown, was forced to retire with a pre-existing shoulder problem.
The outcome was a huge anti-climax for a crowd which had been eagerly anticipating the latest clash between two players widely regarded as the greatest of all time.
Their last meeting in England in the World Championship final last August was a classic, as Lin avenged his loss to the Malaysian in the previous All England final.
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Yet there was little chance of a repeat of that excitement as Lin exploited Lee's discomfort to take command and forced his opponent to accept defeat.
Lee said: "The injury happened on Friday and it has been quite difficult. I didn't want to push myself too much in this Olympic year.
"I tried my best in the first game but it was getting worse so I had to stop."
Lin was modest about his achievement and paid tribute to his rival.
He said: "I was a little surprised because in the first game we both played very well.
"We have a very good rivalry. We have been playing each other for 10 years and there are no secrets between us.
"He has made my career more successful and I cherish every match I play against him."
Lin's victory completed Asia's clean sweep of all the titles in Birmingham.
Upset
Thomas Laybourn and Kamilla Rhytter Juhl of Denmark, Europe's last representatives, were beaten in the mixed doubles final by Indonesia's Tontowi Ahmad and Liliyana Natsir.
Ahmad and Natsir, seeded fourth, prevailed 21-17 21-19 in 43 minutes to condemn the eighth seeds to a second defeat in a Birmingham final.
Laybourn said: "We're filled with disappointment as we had a big chance to take a title and didn't take it.
"We've just won nine matches in a row but we knew this would be a difficult match to win.
"We're very confident going forward and are working towards the Olympics."
China's Li Xuerui, the seventh seed, produced an upset to beat compatriot and top seed Wang Yihan 21-13 21-19 in the women's singles.
Tian Qing and Zhao Yunlei beat Wang Xiaoli and Yu Yang 21-17 21-12 in an all-Chinese women's doubles final.
Korea's Jung Jae-sung and Lee Yong-dae saw off Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng, also of China, 21-23 21-9 21-14 in a 66-minute men's doubles clash.
