Lin Dan and Xie Xingfang, the badminton world champions whose relationship has charmed fans, became champions together at the All-England Open for the second successive year on Sunday.

Lin showed himself to be arguably the most popular of the Chinese champions, winning his third All-England Open title in four years at the British national indoor arena.

The elastic and acrobatic left-hander was hailed bythe English crowd after his 21-13, 21-12 victory over his compatriot, Chen Yu, the sixth seed.

This cheer was drowned out by the one heard when he kissed Xie by the podium after she received her trophy. Xie won 21-6, 21-13 against Pi Hongyang, the underdog from France.

Xie's overwhelming win – the slim champion with her gliding movement has thoroughly dominated this week's competition - made her only the third woman since World War Two to have won three successive singles titles.

There seemed little doubt she would achieve this and she agreed she had been at her best. However, most of the interest targeted her relationship with Lin.

They have now won ten titles together which forms the bedrock of their relationship since they can share in each other's victories and deceptions.

Addressing their success, she said: "Both of us are very good players and we have come up together. She warned against feeling nervous and of the importance of keeping one's mental strength to overcome any challenge.

"We are both mentally strong so it is not too difficult to achieve that. I hope that we will go on winning titles together throughout 2008 and 2009."

Lin kept his best for last, shining in the final, after a very difficult win against Indonesia's Sony Dwi Kuncoro in the quarter-final.

Lin has put these troubles behind him, and regained his popularity off his ability to pull off jaw-dropping shots such as round-the-head winners, to diversify his shot techniques and for his off-court candor. 

He frequently dived dramatically along the floor to get a point, queried line calls and applauded the crowd before embracing his opponent after his final victory.

Afterwards he announced his plan to do some shopping, but upon being told that shops close early on Sundays in the UK he quipped: "I better just go then!"

Despite Lin also paying tribute to his British supporters, the final lacked excitement. Despite great displays of skill by both players, they never seemed to be pressing hard for the win.

Shortly afterwards Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng, the top seeds in the men's doubles, failed to regain their title, falling at the final hurdle 21-18, 21-15 to Malaysians Koo Kien Keat and Tan Boon Heong.

This stopped China from complaining the first-ever clean sweep of all five titles, but still allowed to match 2006's haul of four.

Wei Yili and Zhang Yawen won an all-Chinese women's doubles final, while Gao Ling retained her title with her new partner, Zheng Bo, in the mixed doubles, for the day's outstanding performance.

Gao and Zheng were a game and 3-7 down to Anthony Clark and Donna Kellogg, the English pair. It seemed all over as they were four points away from defeat at 16-17 down with the home crowd roaring their approval but the Chinese pair dug deep and the fight back was on.

Their 15-21, 21-18, 21-14 win demonstrated their immense courage and superior physical durability in a contest against highly-skilled opponents.

Zheng and Gao are now unbeaten in four tournaments since first playing together at the start of 2007, and are already becoming firm favorites for a gold at next year's Beijing Olympics.

(China Daily March 12, 2007)