Seoul (AFP) - Rising Chinese star Qiao Bin, 23, won the men's singles final at the Badminton World Federation Korea Open on Sunday after crushing South Korean veteran Son Wan Ho.

The unseeded player, currently world No. 41 in men's singles, defeated the world No. 8 Son 21-11, 21-23, 21-7.

"I'm so thrilled. I have no words to express my feelings," Qiao said. "I have learned my game by watching many of my seniors. First of all, I should mention Lin Dan and Chen Long as my models," he said, referring to two top Chinese players.

Sunday's game also saw South Korean superstar Lee Yong Dae retire from international matches after winning the men's doubles with Yoo Yeon Seong.

The duo staged an upset against China's Li Junhui and Liu Yuchen - champions at last week's Yonex Open Japan - 16-21, 22-20, 21-18 in a nail-biting 85-minute thriller.

"It was a difficult match...but I am glad that I was able to finish my international career with such a good game," Lee said after the match.

Lee, with 43 titles under his belt, is the second most successful Superseries badminton player after Malaysian legend Lee Chong Wei.

The 28-year-old multiple Olympic medallist, including gold in mixed doubles at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, has been a poster boy of South Korean badminton and been widely popular in Asia.

In the women's tournament, Japanese seventh seed Akane Yamaguchi defeated South Korea's Sung Ji Hyun 20-22, 21-15, 21-18.

South Korea dominated the doubles games, with Jung Kyung Eun and Shin Seung Chan beating China's Luo Ying and Luo Yu 21-13, 21-11 in women's doubles.

In mixed doubles, another South Korean pair Ko Sung Hyun and Kim Ha Na defeated China's Zheng Siwei and Chen Qingchen 21-14, 21-19.