Shoulder Injury Dashes Chong Wei's Hat-Trick Bid

KUALA LUMPUR, March 12 (Bernama) -- A shoulder injury dashed World number one Lee Chong Wei's bid to complete a hat-trick of All England titles as he had to retire in the second game of the men's singles final against China's Lin Dan at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham, England Sunday. Chong Wei who lost the first game 19-21, had come into the match with a heavily strapped shoulder that required treatment in the first game from the tournament doctor. The doctor had also come on to treat his injured shoulder before the start of the second game but with the score 6-2 in favour of Lin Dan, the pain became unbearable for Chong Wei who after a short discussion with the tournament umpire and his coach, decided to concede the match by retiring. Chong Wei who had beaten Lin Dan in last year's final gave a spirited display despite playing with a lot of pain on his right shoulder that restricted his movements extensively. The Malaysian who had won his first All England title in 2010 by beating Kenichi Tago of Japan had hoped to complete a hat-trick and become the first Malaysian to win three men's singles titles in a row since Wong Pen Soon in 1952. The men's doubles was also an epic final with South Korean pair Lee Yong Dae/Jung Jae Sung defeating defending champions and world number one pair from China, Cai Yun/Fu Haifeng 21-23, 21-9, 21-14 in a match that went the distance. Results (All finals): Men's Singles : Lin Dan (CHN) bt Lee Chong Wei (MAS) 21-19, 6-2 (retired) Men's Doubles : Lee Yong Dae/Jung Jae Sung (KOR) bt Cai Yun/Fu Haifeng (CHN) 21-23, 21-9, 21-14; Women's Singles: Li Xuerui (CHN) bt Wang Yihan (CHN) 21-13, 21-19; Women's Doubles: Tian Qing/Zhao Yunlei (CHN) bt Wang Xiaoli/Yu Yang (CHN) 21-17, 21-12; Mixed Doubles : Ahmad Tontowi/Liliana Natsir (INA) bt Thomas Laybourn/Kamilla Rytter Juhl (DEN) 21-17, 21-19. --BERNAMA