Watch, All England Open 2023 highlights: An Se Young, Li Shi Feng clinch singles titles
China’s Li Shi Feng, Youth Olympics gold medallist in 2018, recorded the biggest win of his career Sunday as he defeated compatriot Shi Yu Qi in the men’s singles final of the All England Open to emulate hero Lin Dan.
In the women’s event, world number two An Se-Young became the first Korean singles player to win an All England title in 27 years with a thrilling victory over Olympic champion Chen Yufei.
The 23-year-old Li proved too strong for 2018 champion Shi as he won 26-24, 21-5 having come through a marathon three-game semi-final against Denmark’s Anders Antonsen that lasted 95 minutes.
His only previous senior tournament triumph had come at Super 100 level but the success in Birmingham enabled Li to call himself a Super 1000 champion.
It also meant he’d won the oldest of badminton’s major events, with the All England – for many years an unofficial world championship – first staged in 1899.
“I am very excited,” said Li. “I don’t really have the words to express my feeling for the moment.
“It is a huge payback for all the hard work I’ve put in. Although I’ve got the All England title, I would like to aim from more titles.”
China’s now retired Lin Dan, widely regarded as the...
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