World No. 1 Lin Dan staved off a spirited challenge from Peter Gade as China walloped Denmark 3-0 to win its second consecutive Thomas Cup men's world team badminton title and sixth overall on Sunday.
Lin Dan of China rejoices after beating Denmark's Peter Gade at the Thomas Cup team badminton tournament final in Tokyo on Sunday.
Lin snatched the opening match 21-17, 21-19, overcoming a strong attack from world No. 3 Gade while teammates Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng followed with a 19-21, 21-11, 21-18 win in their doubles match against world No. 1 pair Jens Eriksen and Martin Lundgaard Hansen at Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium.
Bao Chunlai wrapped up a perfect victory for China with a 21-12, 12-21, 21-12 win over Kenneth Jonassen.
"I'm very happy I was able to contribute to my team winning at this major tournament between the countries," said Lin, who avenged his defeat to Gade from this spring's China Masters. "I knew that I had to get revenge for losing to him at that tournament."
The victory capped a brilliant weekend for China after the women won the Uber Cup title. Both the men and women's teams finished this year's tournament without dropping a match.
Denmark, which was seeking its first title, finished runnerup for the eighth time.