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Agence France-Presse

Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen fulfilled a childhood dream by beating the legendary Lin Dan from China in straight games to claim the men’s singles gold at the world championships in Glasgow.
At 33, Lin was in the hunt for a record sixth title, but he had to settle for second-best after a 20-22, 16-21 defeat on Sunday.
Lin had a game point at 20-19 up in the first game, but always trailed in the second.
Axelsen is the third Dane to claim the men’s singles crown after Flemming Delfs won the inaugural title in 1977 and Peter Rasmussen was a winner, also in Glasgow, 20 years ago.
“It was my dream to be in a world final,” said Axelsen, the 2014 world and 2016 Olympic bronze medallist. “But it is unbelievable to beat Lin Dan. I have been watching him for years.

“Today, I maybe appeared confident, but inside I was shaking like a little child.”
At the end of the match, the 23-year-old Axelsen clutched his head in disbelief and then collapsed onto the court, but for Lin it was a tough defeat to swallow.
Speedy ‘Super Dan’ too powerful for Hong Kong’s Vincent Wong at Glasgow Worlds
“If I had won the first game, the result might have been different,” said the Chinese star, who also lost to Axelsen in the bronze medal play-off at the 2016 Olympic Games. “But in the second, all the pressure was on me.”
As to his future, Lin was unclear about his plans.
Watch: Highlights from the final day in Glasgow


“I don’t have time to think,” he said. “I go home tomorrow and the Chinese National Games start the day after.
“Then I play in the Japan Open. After that, I have no plans. It will be difficult to play in the World Championships at 34.”
Lee Chong Wei blows what may be last chance at badminton world title as Hong Kong’s Angus Ng wins
For Axelsen, who defeated Olympic champion Chen Long in the semi-finals, the future could not be brighter.
“It is great to know that all the hard work has paid off,” he said.

“Chen Long and Lin Dan have won all the major championships and they inspire me. But I remain humble.
Some people say I am too tall for singles, but I know I can improve. Today I am just so happy.”
Badminton star Angus Ng Ka-long chats with rival Viktor Axelsen in Chinese ahead of BWF World Championships
In a superb women’s singles final, Nozomi Okuhara became the first Japanese player to win a world gold singles medal with a stunning 21-19, 20-22, 22-20 victory over India’s Pusarla V Sindhu in 110 minutes.
“I hope this win will inspire others,” said the diminutive 22-year-old Okuhara.
Watch: Mammoth 50-shot rally between Nozomi Okuhara and Pusarla V Sindhu


“The third game was so close and I was absolutely exhausted. But I decided to try and enjoy it and I could see that she was very tired and was struggling. My attitude got me through.”
The second game ended with the rally of the match, lasting over 50 shots, and it was Sindhu who won it with a great drop-shot.
Hong Kong’s Angus Ng crashes out in the last 16 of the world championships
But the Indian started to irritate both the crowd and the umpire by going for her towel and taking too much time between shots and eventually, at 12-12 in the third, she was given a warning.
Okuhara had lost to Sindhu in the semi-finals of the Olympic Games last year in Rio de Janeiro.

“I learned a lot from that match,” she reflected. “Today I changed my strategy and tried to keep her moving more. My fans were also great. The atmosphere was amazing.”
The only other Japanese gold at a World Championships came from Etsuko Toganoo and Emiko Ueno in the women’s doubles at the very first championships in 1977.
Yuki Fukushima and Sayaka Hirota had a chance to repeat that success, but they had to settle for silver after losing 18-21, 21-17, 15-21 in the final to China’s Chen Qingchen and Jia Yifan.


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Lin Dan

World Championships win over China’s Lin Dan fulfils Viktor Axelsen’s boyhood dream

Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen celebrates his win against China's Lin Dan. Photo: Reuters

(170828) -- GLASGOW, Aug. 28, 2017 (Xinhua) -- Nozomi Okuhara of Japan celebrates after the women's singles final against Pusarla V. Sindhu of India at BWF Badminton World Championships 2017 in Glasgow, Britain, on Aug. 27, 2017. Nozomi Okuhara won 2-1. (Xinhua/Shang Yuqi)

China's Lin Dan competes against Denmark's Viktor Axelsen during the mens singles final on day seven of the 2017 BWF World Championships at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow, Scotland, Sunday Aug. 27, 2017. (Jane Barlow/PA via AP)

Bronze medalists, China's Chen Long (L) and South Korea's Son Wan Ho (2nd L), gold medalist Denmark's Viktor Axelsen, silver China's Lin Dan (R) celebrate on the podium after the men's singles during the 2017 BWF World Championships of badminton at Emirates Arena in Glasgow on August 27, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / ANDY BUCHANAN

I want to emulate Lin Dan, says Chen Long after recapturing All-England title

Chen Long in action in the final. Photo: Xinhua

Mixed doubles winners Zhang Nan (R) and Zhao Yunlei pose with a giant ... thing. Photo: Xinhua

Bao Yixin (R) and Tang Yuanting celebrate on the podium after the women's doubles final against their compatriots Wang Xiaoli/Yu Yang. Photo: Xinhua

Chen Long falls to his knees after winning the title. Photo: Xinhua

Carolina Marin was surprise winner of the women's title. Photo: Xinhua

Lin Dan is one of China’s most marketable athletes – so will his many sponsors rush to abandon him after affair scandal?

Will sponsors such as Montblanc ditch Lin Dan?

This handout image shows Chinese badminton player Lin Dan in an image from the book 'Dolce & Gabbana LinDan'. 25NOV15 [17MAY2015 FEATURE POST MAGAZINE]

Lin Dan and his wife

Lin's wife's post on Weibo

Not so Super: Lin Dan bats off retirement talk after Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen wins Olympic Games badminton bronze

China's Lin Dan reacts after losing a point against Denmark's Viktor Axelsen. Photo: AP

epa05501795 Viktor Axelsen of Denmark celebrates after defeating Dan Lin of China during the Rio 2016 Olympic Games Men's Bronze Medal Match at the Riocentro in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 20 August 2016. EPA/ESTEBAN BIBA

China's Lin Dan, left, congratulates Denmark's Viktor Axelsen after Axelsen won the men's badminton singles bronze medal match at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, Aug. 20, 2016. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

2016 Rio Olympics - Badminton - Men's Singles - Bronze Medal Match - Riocentro - Pavilion 4 - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - 20/08/2016. Lin Dan (CHN) of China plays against Viktor Axelsen (DEN) of Denmark. REUTERS/Marcelo del Pozo FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS.

Victory at last: Lee Chong Wei defeats arch-rival Lin Dan in men’s singles badminton semi-final

Malaysia's Lee Chong Wei drops to his knees in celebration after defeating great rival Lin Dan of China in the men’s singles semi-finals. Photo: AP

2016 Rio Olympics - Badminton - Men's Singles - Semifinals - Riocentro - Pavilion 4 - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - 19/08/2016. Chong Wei Lee (MAS) of Malaysia hugs Lin Dan (CHN) of China after winning his match. REUTERS/Marcelo del Pozo FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS.

Spain's Carolina Marin reacts after winning against India's Pusarla V. Sindhu during their women's singles Gold Medal badminton match at the Riocentro stadium in Rio de Janeiro on August 19, 2016, for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Spain's Carolina Marin won the match. / AFP PHOTO / EMMANUEL DUNAND

2016 Rio Olympics - Badminton - Men's Singles - Semifinals - Riocentro - Pavilion 4 - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - 19/08/2016. Chong Wei Lee (MAS) of Malaysia celebrates after winning against Lin Dan (CHN) of China. REUTERS/Marcelo del Pozo TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS.

Malaysia's Lee Chong Wei returns against China's Lin Dan during their men's singles semi-final badminton match at the Riocentro stadium in Rio de Janeiro on August 19, 2016, for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Malaysia's Lee Chong Wei won the match. / AFP PHOTO / GOH Chai Hin

Will there be another blockbuster final between arch-rivals Lee Chong Wei and Lin Dan at the world championships?

Lee Chong Wei and Lin Dan could face each other in the men’s singles final at the world championships in Glasgow this month. Photo: Sam Tsang/AFP

Lee Chong Wei and Lin Dan

Lin Dan of China celebrates beating Simon Santosa of Indonesia in the men's singles final at the Australia Open badminton tournament in Sydney on June 29, 2014. Lin Dan won the match 22-24 21-16 21-7. AFP PHOTO/Peter PARKS IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE

epa03820719 Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia on his knees injured during the men's singles final match against Lin Dan of China on day seven of the 2013 BWF World Championships in Guangzhou, China 11 August 2013. EPA/MIKE PICKLES

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Dane posts 20-22, 16-21 victory over six-time champion to add to 2016 Olympic bronze medal
