China's Lin Dan -- regarded by many as the greatest badminton player of all time -- made another entry into the record books when he regained the All-England Open title on Sunday.

Lin's 21-9, 21-10 victory in the final over his compatriot Tian Houwei was a thrilling rebuttal to those critics who reckoned that, aged 32 and with a mere handful of titles in the past three years, he is past his best.

Mischievously skilful, he ensured that the outcome of this final was never in doubt.

Instead, Lin, who now has six All-England titles, suggested a third Olympic men’s singles gold medal could well be possible in Rio de Janeiro in five months' time.

"I want to show everyone that at 33 I will still be able to do it," he said.

It was four years since Lin had last won the All-England, but his total of men's singles titles here has now only been surpassed by Rudy Hartono, the great Indonesian, who won eight.

But that was more than 40 years ago and in the pre-professional era.

Source :AFP