Lin Dan wins after Chong Wei retires due to shoulder injury

GUANGZHOU - Lee Chong Wei suffered cramps in the third set with the score at 17-20 and had to abandon the match, handing the world title to Lin Dan again at the World Badminton Championship here.

Chong Wei won the first game 21-16, lost the second 13-21 before both players were engaged in a gruelling third and deciding set.

Chong Wei could not retrieve a shot and knelt on the floor suffering from cramps and had to be taken for medical treatment on a stretcher.

Lin Dan was cheered when he walked over to help Chong Wei.

Having lost the first final against Lin Dan in 2011 edition at the Wembley Arena in London, Chong Wei was looking eager to wipe out that bitter memory, and had in fact taken a 10-6 lead in the deciding set but allowed the defending champion to claw his way back to go into the break, leading 11-10, Bernama reported.

From that moment onwards, Chong Wei never recovered and left trailing the Chinese star all the way until coming down with cramps when the score was 19-16.

After receiving treatment at the court-side, Chong Wei came back to score a point but once Lin Dan reached 20, Chong Wei threw in the towel to indicate his decision not to continue.