Chinas Chen Jin returns a shot to Indonesias Taufik Hidayat. - Reuters Photo
PARIS Chen Jin of China beat Taufik Hidayat of Indonesia 21-13, 21-15 in the final of the badminton world championships on Sunday.

The fourth-seeded Chen stretched his winning streak to 16 matches to clinch his first world title.

“Mentally, I was very strong for today's match,” Chen said.

“I did not let Taufik play to his strength, which is to take the net. I did not allow Taufik to play his game, that's why I managed to control the play.”

Chen, the 2009 runner-up, has often been in the shadow of fellow Chinese and three-time world champion Lin Dan but his victory could herald a changing of the guard.

China is still on course for a sweep of the finals. In women's singles, seventh-seeded Lin Wang defeated third-seeded Wang Xin 21-11, 19-21, 21-13.

In mixed doubles, Zheng Bo and Ma Jin defeated He Hanbin and Yu Yang 21-14, 21-10, in an all-Chinese final.

Chen jumped to a 7-0 lead in the first set as 2004 Olympic champion Hidayat made many unforced errors.

Hidayat cut the deficit to 13-9 but Chen kept putting the Indonesian on the back foot while playing more solidly.

Hidayat never led in the second set with Chen going ahead 11-6 with a net kill.

Hidayat hit a smash to come back at 12-10 and keep his hopes alive. Chen slammed a jump smash for 17-10 before converting his fourth match point when a forehand from Hidayat went long.

“I made too many mistakes,” Hidayat said.

 “Chen controlled my game today. It was hard to win each point from the start until the end.”

Hidayat had also lost to Chen in the semifinals of last year's worlds in India.

“I'm so sad I lost today,” Hidayat said, “but Chen Jin is a very good player, he was powerful today.”

Chen hit 18 smash winners to only six for Hidayat. - AP

Opinion

Editorial

Khamenei’s killing
Updated 02 Mar, 2026

Khamenei’s killing

THERE is no question about it: with the brutal assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and...
NFC reform
02 Mar, 2026

NFC reform

PLANNING Minister Ahsan Iqbal’s call for forward-looking reforms in the NFC Award has reopened an important debate...
Migrant crisis
02 Mar, 2026

Migrant crisis

MIGRANT casualties represent the lifelong pain of families left behind. Yet countries do little to preserve ...
A new war
Updated 01 Mar, 2026

A new war

UNLESS there is an immediate diplomatic breakthrough, the joint Israeli-American aggression against Iran launched on...
Breaking the cycle
01 Mar, 2026

Breaking the cycle

THE confrontation between Pakistan and Afghanistan has taken a dangerous turn. Attacks, retaliatory strikes and the...
Anonymous collections
01 Mar, 2026

Anonymous collections

THE widespread emergence of ‘nameless donation boxes’ soliciting charity in cities and towns across Punjab...