Lin Dan vs Taufik Hidayat | Final Asian Games 2006 | Shuttle Amazing
Lin Dan (born October 14, 1983)[1] is a Chinese professional badminton player. He is a two-time Olympic champion, five-time World champion, as well as a six-time All England champion.
Widely regarded as the greatest badminton player of all time,[3][4][5] by the age of 28 Lin had completed the "Super Grand Slam", having won all nine major titles in the badminton world: Olympic Games, World Championships, World Cup, Thomas Cup, Sudirman Cup, Super Series Masters Finals, All England Open, Asian Games, and Asian Championships, becoming the first and only player to achieve this feat.[6][7] He also became the first men's singles player to retain the Olympic gold medal by winning in 2008 and defending his title in 2012.[8] Winning the Malaysian Open in 2017 marked Lin's success in having won every major title in the badminton world.[9]
In 2004, he was dubbed "Super Dan" by opponent Peter Gade after winning the All England Open final, and the nickname has since been widely used by his fans as well as the media to refer to him, in recognition of his achievements.[10][11]
Lin was born to a Hakka family in Shanghang County, Longyan, Fujian. At a young age, Lin Dan was encouraged to learn to play the piano by his parents, and to be a pianist. However, he chose to play badminton instead. Having started his training at the age of five, he was scouted by the People's Liberation Army Sports Team after winning the National Junior Championships aged twelve, and was enlisted into the Chinese National Badminton Team in 2001, when he was 18.[176][177][178]
Lin has been in a relationship with Xie Xingfang, herself a former world champion, since 2003.[179] They were quietly engaged on December 13, 2010 in Haizhu, Guangzhou. Xie initially denied but later acknowledged romantic involvement with Lin, who reacted angrily at the public exposure of their relationship, citing reasons of personal privacy.[180] The two were married on September 23, 2012 and the wedding ceremony was held at the Beijing University of Technology.[181]
Lin had five tattoos visible during the 2012 Summer Olympics. His upper left arm has a Christian cross,[182] his lower left arm has five stars, his right upper arm reads "until the end of world",[183] a double "F" lettering on his lower right arm, and his initials "LD" are tattoed on the back of his neck.[184] These tattoos have been the subject of controversy due to his military and religious status.[182][185]
On October 17, 2012, he became the first active Chinese badminton player to accept a master's degree, which was presented at Huaqiao University.[186] His autobiography, Until the End of the World, was published after he successfully defended his Olympic title at the London 2012 Olympics.[187]
2019
Lin Dan won his second Malaysia Open title in 2019, beating compatriot Chen Long in the finals.[174] However, he withdrew from the Singapore Open in the first round against Viktor Axelsen, citing a "thigh injury".[175] In April, Lin Dan lost in the semifinals of the New Zealand Open to Ng Ka Long. In September, Lin Dan lost in the finals of the Korea Masters tournament to Kanta Tsuneyama.
Taufik Hidayat (born 10 August 1981) is a retired Indonesian badminton player. He is a former World and Olympic champion in the men's singles. He has also won the Indonesia Open six times (1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2006).[1]
Hidayat won the men's singles gold medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics defeating Hidetaka Yamada of Japan and Wong Choong Hann of Malaysia in the first two rounds. Hidayat defeated Peter Gade of Denmark 15–12, 15–12 in the quarter final and Boonsak Ponsana of Thailand 15–9, 15–2 in the semifinal. Playing in the gold medal match. He defeated Korean Shon Seung-mo 15–8, 15–7 in the final to win the gold medal. In the same year, Hidayat successfully retained his Indonesia Open title by defeating Chen Hong 15–9, 15–3 in the final and won his second Asian Championships title.
In August 2005, he won the men's singles title at the World Championships defeating world number one Lin Dan of China 15–3, 15–7 in the final. With this title, he became the first men's single player to hold the Olympic and World Championships title in consecutive years.
Hidayat won the men's singles gold medal at the Asian Games in 2002 Busan and 2006 Doha. He also won the 2007 Asian Championship, and two men's singles gold medals at the Southeast Asian Games in 1999 Bandar Seri Begawan and 2007 Nakhon Ratchasima.
Popular media has at times focused on the perceived rivalry between Hidayat and Chinese player Lin Dan, referring to the two as "arch rivals".[2][3][4]
In November 2012, Hidayat built a badminton training center named Taufik Hidayat Arena (THA), located at Ciracas, East Jakarta. This "house of badminton" is both named and owned by Taufik.[5]
