Badminton: Lin and Nehwal win Australian Open singles honours

Lin Dan of China (right) hits a return to Simon Santosa of Indonesia (left) in the men's singles final at the Australia Open badminton tournament in Sydney on June 29, 2014. Lin Dan won the match 22-24 21-16 21-7. Chinese superstar Lin Dan fough
Lin Dan of China (right) hits a return to Simon Santosa of Indonesia (left) in the men's singles final at the Australia Open badminton tournament in Sydney on June 29, 2014. Lin Dan won the match 22-24 21-16 21-7. Chinese superstar Lin Dan fought back from dropping the opening game to overhaul Simon Santoso and win the World Superseries Australian Badminton Open in Sydney on Sunday. -- PHOTO: AFP

SYDNEY (AFP) - Chinese superstar Lin Dan fought back from dropping the opening game to overhaul Simon Santoso and win the World Superseries Australian Badminton Open in Sydney on Sunday.

The two-time Olympic gold medallist and five-time world champion downed the 18th-ranked Indonesian 22-24, 21-16, 21-7 in 75 minutes.

It was Lin's first World Superseries final in over two years and he took charge from the second game.

The 30-year-old, considered the greatest badminton player of all time, had to qualify for the Sydney event after his ranking dropped to 104 following a seven-month sabbatical from the sport.

He went into the final ranked 22 and is expected to climb further in the world rankings following his victory.

Santoso had lost 10 of his previous 11 encounters with Lin, but looked on course for an upset when he shocked the Chinese star in the first game.

India's Saina Nehwal won the women's singles final in straight games against Spain's Carolina Marin.

The eighth-ranked Nehwal overcome early resistance to defeat Marin, ranked three spots below her, 21-18, 21-11 in 43 minutes.

It was Nehwal's first World Superseries final in 20 months and she got there by eliminating Chinese top seed Wang Shixian in three games in Saturday's semi-finals.

The South Korean combination of Lee Yong Dae and Yoo Yeon Seong won the men's doubles final against Chinese Taipei's Lee Sheng-mu and Tsai Chia-hsin 21-14, 21-18.

Chinese duo Tian Qing and Zhao Yunlei took the women's doubles against Japan's Misaki Matsutomo and Ayaka Takahashi 21-15, 21-9.

South Koreans Ko Sung Hyun and Kim Ha Na captured the mixed doubles final against German pair Michael Fuchs and Birgit Michels 21-16, 21-17.

The next Superseries event is scheduled for Denmark from Oct 14 to 19.

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