( *Credit image : The Star Online)
At the age of 35 many think Malaysia's Lee Chong Wei will quit the sport soon but sent out strong signals that there is still plenty of badminton in him when he defeated China's Chen Long for was fifth Hong Kong Open title.
The Malaysian blasted Chen Long 21-14, 21-19 in 47 minutes to bring the double joy to himself and the country.
His win means the Malaysian will next head to Dubai next month for the BWD Superseries Grand Finals.
For Malaysian badminton – struggling to get another Chong Wei – in their quest for major honours next year like the Thomas Cup Finals in Bangkok, the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast and the Asian Game in Indonesia – the former world number one is a prized asset.
Tasting his 46th Superseries title was also sweet revenge for Chong Wei for the narrow defeat to Chen Long in last year's Rio Olympics men's singles final.
Chong Wei lost 18-21, 18-21 as the gold medal remained elusive in his third Olympics final.
He also lost in Beijing (2008) and London (2012).
Having cut down on his international tournaments, the Hong Kong Open is only his second superseries title this year after winning the prestigious All-England in March.
"I will be back next year," said Chong Wei in a live interview on television after his win over Chen Long, who won the Tahoe China Open Superseries Premier in Fuzhou a week earlier.
For the second successive year India's P.V. Sindhu played second fiddle to Tai Tzu Ying of Chinese Taipei in the women's final.
Tzu Ying retained her title with a 21-18, 21-18 win and was USD30,000 richer.
Sindhu took home USD15,200.
The men's doubles went Indonesia's way with world number one Marcus Fernaldi Gideon-Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo of Indonesia netting their sixth superseries title in a calender year which is a new record.
"It has been an amazing year for us.
We did not expect to win six titles in one season.
We hope to add another title (BWF Superseries Grand Finals) in Dubai," said Gideon in an interview.
World champions and top seeds Chen Qingchen-Jia Yifan came back from a game down for a 14-21, 21-16, 21-15 win over Indonesia's Greysia Polii-Apriyani Rahayu in 70 minutes for their third title in three weeks.
They had earlier won the Macau Open and the China Open.
The Chinese also took the mixed doubles with fifth seeds Zheng Siwei-Huang Yaqiong taming Denmark's Mathias Christinna Pedersen 21-15, 21-13
RESULTS (All Finals)
MEN'S SINGLES
Lee Chong Wei (MAS) beat Chen Long (CHN) 21-14, 21-19
MEN'S DOUBLES
Marcus Fernaldi Gideon-Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo (INA) beat Mads Conrad-Petersen-Mads Pieler Kolding (DEN) 21-12, 21-18
WOMEN'S SINGLES
Tai Tzu Ying (TPE) beat P.V. Sindhu (IND) 21-18, 21-18
WOMEN'S DOUBLES
Chen Qingchen-Jia Yifan (CHN) beat Greysia Polii-Apriyani Rahayu (INA) 14-21, 21-16, 21-15
MIXED DOUBLES
Zheng Siwei-Huang Yaqiong (CHN) beat Mathias Christiansen-Christinna Pedersen (DEN) 21-15, 21-13
