In just 32 minutes in the Men's Singles Final of China Masters 2007, Lin Dan has proved to the badminton world that he is in top form and ready for the World Championship 2007 next month.
After losing in Singapore Open and Sudirman Cup, many thought that Lin Dan career is going downhill. The past week has been one of Lin Dan's greatest challenge of his career as he needed to prove to his coach and to the world that his career in badminton is not going anywhere but up. It was gruelling and stressfull but in the end he did it by beating Wong Choon Han of Malaysia in the final in two straight sets of 21-19 and 21-9.
The road to the winning the China Masters 2007 was not easy for Lin Dan. In the first round he had to faced Singpore top player, Ronald Susilo, which he won with scores of 21-14 and 21-14.
In the second round, he faced one of his teammate, Du Pengyu, who he beat in two straight sets at 21-11 and 21-16. In the third round or quarterfinal, he fought a hard battle against his compatriot, Bao Chunlai, and won 19-21, 21-18, and 21-12.
His biggest hurdle of the China Masters was the semi-final where he met Lee Chong Wei, his archrival and nemesis who beat him the past week during the Sudirman Cup. Lin Dan beat Lee Chong Wei 15-21, 21-14, and 21-15 to put himself in the final. The match was considered by many badminton fans as the "final" of Men's Singles event of the China Masters.
In the final, Lin Dan destroyed Wong Choon Han in merely 32 minutes with a score of 21-19 and 21-9 to win the China Masters 2007 Men's Singles title.
It was a long and hard journey but surely it was worth it for Lin Dan, his teammates and coaches, his fans, and the badminton world.