*Source: DTN News / BWF
(NSI News Source Info) HYDERABAD, India - August 17, 2009: Chinese ace Lin Dan is poised to become the first player in World Badminton Championship history to win three successive men's singles titles. 
China's Lin Dan returns a shot against compatriot Chen Jin during their final men's singles match in the World Badminton Championships in Hyderabad August 16, 2009.
Defending champion and Olympic gold medalist Lin, winner of the World Championship in 2006 and 2007, has held an edge over his Malaysian archrival Lee Chong Wei in major events and will hope to extend that in the event beginning Monday in Hyderabad.
His aggressive style, which earned Lin the nickname of 'Super Dan', was the feature of his triumphs over No.1-ranked Lee in the finals at last year's Beijing Olympics and at the All-England Open in Birmingham.
Lin will carry that confidence into the upcoming tournament, while Lee will be burdened by the unhappy memory of his last sojourn to this southern Indian city, where he made a first-round exit from the Indian Open five months ago, after a bout of food poisoning.
Lin and his top-seeded archrival Lee are both drawn in the top-half of the championship along with seasoned Danish star and former silver medalist Peter Gade, who is seeded No. 3.
In the other half, second-seeded Chinese Jin Chen and former world champion Taufik Hidayat of Indonesia, No. 4 seed this time, have a relatively easier draw.
Title holder Lin's low No. 5 seeding is because his world ranking dropped due to non-participation in several Super Series events.
A potential semifinal encounter between Lin and Lee could be the showpiece of the event, with Lee eager to clinch his maiden World Championship.
"I'm in my top form and this is my prime time to win the World title," says Lee.
"It's always tough to play against Lin Dan ... he's that sort of a player, but I've prepared hard for this challenge
"He's always attacking, and one's got to produce his best game to contain him."
Lee did beat Lin in the Swiss Open in March, before the Chinese outsmashed the Malaysian in straight games in the All-England final. "Earlier, I used to commit mistakes during crucial points and also succumb to pressure," says Lee, whose coach Misbun Sadek, a former world No. 2, has been working hard on ironing out these problems.
Before Lin's triumphs in the World Championships at Madrid (2006) and Kuala Lumpur (2007), the only player in badminton history to have won successive men's singles titles was his compatriot Yang Yang, but that was before it became an annual event. There was no event in 2008 because it was an Olympic year. 
China's Lin Dan (2nd L) with his compatriot Chen Jin (L) and Indonesia's Taufik Hidayat with his compatriot Sony Dwi Kuncoro (R) pose with their medals during an award ceremony in the southern Indian city of Hyderabad August 16, 2009. Dan won the gold as Jin the silver and Hidayat and Kuncoro were both semi-finalists in the final men's singles event in the World Badminton Championships.
The World Championships were held every three years until 1983, and then became a biennial event from 1985. The format was changed again when it became an annual tournament from 2005.
In the women's singles, another player chasing a record third title is Chinese player Xie Xingfang. Other fancied players are world No. 1 Zhou Mi of Hong Kong, the top seed, and No. 2 Wang Lin of China.
Xie, silver medalist in the Beijing Olympics last year, is hoping to surpass former Chinese stars Li Lingwie, Han Aiping and Ye Zhaoying _ who all have two World championship women's singles titles to their credit.
India, subject to sporadic acts of terrorist violence, has devoted heavy security to the event, with 1,000 police officers making a five-cordon security ring around the venue and team hotels.
China's Lin Dan returns a shot against compatriot Chen Jin during their final men's singles match in the World Badminton Championships in Hyderabad August 16, 2009.
Defending champion and Olympic gold medalist Lin, winner of the World Championship in 2006 and 2007, has held an edge over his Malaysian archrival Lee Chong Wei in major events and will hope to extend that in the event beginning Monday in Hyderabad.
His aggressive style, which earned Lin the nickname of 'Super Dan', was the feature of his triumphs over No.1-ranked Lee in the finals at last year's Beijing Olympics and at the All-England Open in Birmingham.
Lin will carry that confidence into the upcoming tournament, while Lee will be burdened by the unhappy memory of his last sojourn to this southern Indian city, where he made a first-round exit from the Indian Open five months ago, after a bout of food poisoning.
Lin and his top-seeded archrival Lee are both drawn in the top-half of the championship along with seasoned Danish star and former silver medalist Peter Gade, who is seeded No. 3.
In the other half, second-seeded Chinese Jin Chen and former world champion Taufik Hidayat of Indonesia, No. 4 seed this time, have a relatively easier draw.
Title holder Lin's low No. 5 seeding is because his world ranking dropped due to non-participation in several Super Series events.
A potential semifinal encounter between Lin and Lee could be the showpiece of the event, with Lee eager to clinch his maiden World Championship.
"I'm in my top form and this is my prime time to win the World title," says Lee.
"It's always tough to play against Lin Dan ... he's that sort of a player, but I've prepared hard for this challenge
"He's always attacking, and one's got to produce his best game to contain him."
Lee did beat Lin in the Swiss Open in March, before the Chinese outsmashed the Malaysian in straight games in the All-England final. "Earlier, I used to commit mistakes during crucial points and also succumb to pressure," says Lee, whose coach Misbun Sadek, a former world No. 2, has been working hard on ironing out these problems.
Before Lin's triumphs in the World Championships at Madrid (2006) and Kuala Lumpur (2007), the only player in badminton history to have won successive men's singles titles was his compatriot Yang Yang, but that was before it became an annual event. There was no event in 2008 because it was an Olympic year. China's Lin Dan (2nd L) with his compatriot Chen Jin (L) and Indonesia's Taufik Hidayat with his compatriot Sony Dwi Kuncoro (R) pose with their medals during an award ceremony in the southern Indian city of Hyderabad August 16, 2009. Dan won the gold as Jin the silver and Hidayat and Kuncoro were both semi-finalists in the final men's singles event in the World Badminton Championships.
The World Championships were held every three years until 1983, and then became a biennial event from 1985. The format was changed again when it became an annual tournament from 2005.
In the women's singles, another player chasing a record third title is Chinese player Xie Xingfang. Other fancied players are world No. 1 Zhou Mi of Hong Kong, the top seed, and No. 2 Wang Lin of China.
Xie, silver medalist in the Beijing Olympics last year, is hoping to surpass former Chinese stars Li Lingwie, Han Aiping and Ye Zhaoying _ who all have two World championship women's singles titles to their credit.
India, subject to sporadic acts of terrorist violence, has devoted heavy security to the event, with 1,000 police officers making a five-cordon security ring around the venue and team hotels.
Zhixian is the one of the first among the nine members in the women's singles back-up squad to win an international title. "Some of my teammates in the squad are gearing up for the Asian and World Junior Championships. They are quite young," added Zhixian, who will be out to win the Philippines Open next.
Ma Jin, on the other hand, did not have to work hard with her partner Zheng Bo against compatriots Xu Chen-Zhao Yunlei in the mixed doubles. It was the first event of the day but just 15 minutes into the first game, Yunlei limped out of the court with a twisted ankle after levelling the score at 5-5.
With the win albeit through default, the world number 18 Zheng Bo-Ma Jin went home with their fourth straight Open title, keeping steady their impressive 20 matches unbeaten streak in the international stage. They were also the winners at the last three Opens in Switzerland, Singapore and Indonesia.
Despite the brilliant run, Zheng Bo said that they would not raise their hopes sky high in their preparation for their World Championships debut in India next month. "We are not really too disappointed with the way we won today. It is unfortunate that our opponent cum teammate was injured," said Zheng Bo.
"There are many strong mixed doubles pairs and it will be quite tough. We will try to achieve good results."
In the women’s doubles, Ma Jin-Wang Xiaoli beat Malaysia’s Wong Pei Tty-Chin Eei Hui 21-9, 21-11 to take the title.
The Rs. 5 lakh prize money tournament is organised by the Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy and Yonex is named the official equipment supplier. 
"This victory has given me confidence. I am looking forward to win events like World Championships and the All England Championship."
Saina upset World No.3 Chinese Lin Wang to become the first Indian to win an elite badminton event since her coach Pullela Gopichand won the prestigious All England Championships in 2001. Before that former world no.1 Prakash Padukone had won the All England title in 1980.
Saina, however, is only 19 and has risen in the ranks in world badminton fast. Her ranking has gone up one place to World No.7 after the victory.
