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Zhang and Lin win Japan Open singles
Athens Olympic champion Zhang Ning ended the winning streak of fellow Chinese Xie Xingfang Sunday and captured the women's singles title at the Japan Open badminton tournament.
The veteran top seed, who surrendered her world number one ranking to Xie this week, used effective drops to Xie's backhand to chalk up an 11-7, 11-8 victory. "I reached the final in Japan for the first time and went on to win the title. I'm really happy about it," said Zhang. "I prepared for the match very well, I've studied her (Xie's) tactics, and I could move very well today." She added: "In the beginning, I felt she was very tired, she didn't move as quickly as she usually does, so I didn't change my tactics. I just played my usual game to beat her today." In the all-Chinese men's singles final, world number one Lin Dan fired his favourite jump smashes to lead 15-4, 2-0, when Chen Hong suddenly retired because of a fever. Lin said: "Everybody wants to win a title by playing his 100 percent, so I'm not so happy to win like this. I know he got a cold yesterday. I cannot say I'm lucky." "If Chen Hong was in his best form, I cannot beat him so easily like this. But it is good I was able to finish it quickly." Zhang, who is also the world champion, moved Xie from the baseline to the front with an array of soft-touched shots combined with smashes and disguised overhead drops. She said afterwards she really started enjoying the sport after winning the Olympics and looked forward to the Beijing Olympics in 2008. "But I'm older than other teammates and I feel it's tough to train," said Zhang, 29. "Other players retired after winning a big event but I want to continue as long as my body allows me to do," she said. It was Zhang's first title since winning the Singapore Open in November. She also achieved a 6-5 win-loss record against Xie, avenging her loss in the All England final last month. Xie had previously won six straight Grand Prix series victories including the most prestigious All England last month, and 34 straight matches. The top-seeded Danish duo of Jens Eriksen and Martin Lundgaard Hansen won the men's doubles title - beating Indonesia's Candra Wijaya and Sigit Budiarto 15-10, 15-3. The women's doubles title went to China's Yang Wei and Zhang Jiewen, who overwhelmed teammates Wei Yili and Zhao Tingting 15-12, 15-2. Thailand won their first-ever Japan Open title when Sudket Prapakamol and Saralee Thungthongkam, last year's runners-up, defeated Denmark's Jens Eriksen and Mette Schjoldager 15-13, 14-17, 15-7.
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