KUALA LUMPUR, 4 July – Lin Dan, arguably the greatest men’s singles shuttler dubbed “Super Dan” stunned the badminton world on Saturday (July 4) with his sudden and unexpected retirement from the sport.
The incredible left-hander, born in Longyan, Fujian, wanted very much to play in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics but the ravaging Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic throw a spanner in his bid when the games were postponed to next summer in 2021.
The name “Super Dan” – given to him by Denmark’s Peter Gade – for his exploits on the court stuck to him. He was a “Super Dan” alright, winning all the badminton majors in the world and he lived up to his billing.
He won two Olympic golds – in Beijing in 2008 and retained it in London in 2012. On both occasions, he beat his greatest rival, Malaysia’s Datuk Lee Chong Wei.
In Beijing, he beat the Malaysian in straight games 21-12, 21-8 while in London Lin Dan needed three games before prevailing in a come from behind for a 15-21, 21-10, 21-19 win.
Chong Wei stopped Lin Dan in the semi-finals at the Rio Olympics in 2016 but the Malaysian again played bridesmaid when he fell to Chen Long at the final hurdle and the Olympic gold remained elusive.
Lin Dan also won five world titles and this he achieved in Madrid (2006), Kuala Lumpur (2007), Hyderabad (2009), London (2011), and Guangzhou (2013).
The Chinese legend also helped his country win the Thomas Cup six times and the Sudirman Cup five times.
Chong Wei describes Lin Dan as ”the greatest of all time”. The two were great rivals on the court and but were great buddies off the court.
Lin Dan’s 20-year badminton journey began in 2000 and it ends a year after Chong Wei retired from the sport in June last year due to health reasons when he was diagnosed with nasal cancer.
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