BIGGEST WIN: China's Zhu Lin is jubilant after beating Hong Kong's Wang Chen to win her first world title. -- PHOTO: AFP

Defending champion Lin downed Indonesia's Sony Dwi Kuncoro 21-11, 22-20 to become only the second men's singles player in history to win consecutive world championship titles.

Lin, known as Super Dan to his fans, dropped to the floor and pulled his shirt over his head as the 9,000-strong crowd cheered his win.

'I'm very happy with this win, it's the result of much hard work,' he said.

He was criticised by his coach in the lead-up to the tournament for lacking commitment after he lost a dead rubber match at the Sudirman Cup in Scotland, but the champion said he had never stopped working hard.

'Every step is a new beginning and a new challenge and I just try to improve myself and I never give up or relax, even though I've won so many tournaments,' he said.

Lin, 23, said he has long wanted to emulate Chinese great Yang Yang, who won his world titles in 1987 and 1989.

Sony, seeded ninth, showed flashes of the form that brought him a surprise win against Malaysia's Lee Chong Wei earlier in the tournament.

He clawed his way back into the second game, fighting from 6-12 down to level the score at 14-14 with an overhead smash that brought roars from the crowd, which had draped Putra Stadium in giant Indonesian flags.

The pair fought point for point in a tense encounter, but Lin eventually held on for a 22-20 win.

World No5 Zhu was never in doubt in her final against Wang Chen, downing the Hong Kong sixth seed 21-8, 21-12.

Zhu watched her more famous teammates, including world No1 Zhang Ning and defending champion Xie Xingfang, bounced from the tournament.

But she said she felt no pressure to ensure the coveted crown stayed in China's already bulging trophy cabinet.

'This is my biggest title. I was looking forward to this game very much, but I didn't expect to win,' Zhu said.

'I spoke to Zhang before the game and we talked about how to beat Wang, but there was no pressure,' she said.

China, a powerhouse of badminton, had been gunning for a clean sweep of all five world titles ahead of next year's Beijing Olympics.

They triumphed in the women's doubles in an all-China battle, but still came up two crowns short.

In the women's doubles, third seeds Yang Wei and Zhang Jiewen fought off defending champions Gao Ling and Huang Sui for a 21-16, 21-19 victory.

Indonesia denied the Chinese victory in the mixed doubles, with Nova Widianto and Lilyana Natsir beating Zheng Bo and Gao Ling 21-16, 21-14.

The Indonesians also clinched the men's doubles title when Markis Kido and Hendra Setiawan beat South Korea's Jung Jae Sung and Lee Yong Dae 21-19, 21-19.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE