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30th August, 2010
PARIS: Chen Jin, the man who has lived for years in the shadow of the greatest player of all time, suddenly emerged into the spotlight to become a surprise world champion Sunday.
The third-seeded Chinese player did that with a convincing 21-13, 21-15 win over Taufik Hidayat, the gifted but unpredictable former world and Olympic champion from Indonesia.
Chen thus kept his promise to himself that he would go one better than last year, when he finished runner-up to Lin Dan, the compatriot who had become the first player to win a singles title three times in a row.
Right from the start he was the more solid and consistent player and looked the more likely winner.
He was soon 7-0 up, and although Hidayat had flashes of characteristic brilliance, it was only when he pulled back from 6-11 to 10-12 that he seemed to have a chance of getting into contention.
Much of the rest of the time Chen showed better movement, greater discipline, and a more ruthless eye for picking moments to ram home smashes and net kills. He also denied his opponent too many chances to win points at the net, one of Taufik’s strongest areas.
But few would have picked Chen before a tournament in which Lin was often feted as the greatest player of all time, while others felt that world number one Lee Chong Wei might at last have his moment.
“Everyone had their chance to play and win, and it just happens I did,” said Chen. “And I am very thankful for that.
“But I am not the new Lin Dan. Lin Dan is Lin Dan and Chen Jin is Chen Jin.”
Chen revealed that he had carefully analysed Taufik’s semi-final against Park Sung Hwan, and tried to observe during the match how the Indonesian was faring physically.
It was evident to most people that Hidayat fell away quickly near the end, from 10-12 to 12-20.
However Chen looked rather glum about his success. “I am happy now,” he explained. “But I have to start all over again very soon, and get back to the hard work again.”
Hidayat by contrast looked relaxed and content. “I didn’t have any pressure,” he claimed a little oddly. “If I lost I was happy, and if I won I was happy.
“Chen today was better, and I will go home and prepare for the Asian Games. The world championships were not my target before coming here – I’m preparing for the Asian Games, which only happens every four years.”
And then Hidayat smiled broadly, reached across to shake hands with Chen again, and departed cheerfully, saying “see you next tournament.
Chen’s win ensured China was certain of winning at least four of the five titles, for both the women’s singles and doubles were all-Chinese affairs, and earlier China won the mixed doubles.
This was the only title China failed to win last year in Hyderabad.
Now, however it was confidently captured by Zheng Bo and Ma Jin, the eighth seeded pair which in the quarter-finals had eliminated the favourites, Nova Widianto and Lilyana Natsir of Indonesia.
Zheng and Ma won 21-14, 21-10 against He Hanbin, the sixth seeds who had pulled off a surprise in the last eight by halting the world title defence of Thomas Laybourn and Kamilla Rytter Juhl of Denmark.
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