China's Lin Dan celebrates winning his men's singles badminton gold medal match against Malaysia's Lee Chong Wei at the London 2012 Olympic Games Sunday. — ReutersLONDON – Lin Dan of China became the first man to retain the Olympic badminton singles title after beating Malaysian archrival Lee Chong Wei in a final that lived up to the hype Sunday. Lin, unquestionably the greatest player ever with his sixth Olympic and world title, won 15-21, 21-10, 21-19 to repeat his victory over Chong Wei in the Beijing Games final. When Chong Wei's final shot landed long, Lin sprinted around Wembley Arena until he was tackled by his coaches. He didn't rip off his shirt as he did in Beijing, but he threw it into the crowd and saluted them. Chong Wei slumped to the court, his hopes of winning Malaysia's first-ever Olympic gold ruined again. But of Malaysia's three silver medals, he now owns two of them as their most successful Olympian. Chong Wei walked into the arena to a decidedly warmer reception than he received in Beijing, where he admitted he choked in the final. The teammate groomed to replace Lin, Chen Long, won the bronze medal beating Lee Hyun-il of South Korea 21-15, 15-21, 21-15. Four years ago in Beijing, Lee lost to Chen Jin then retired. But South Korean officials persuaded him to play again to help the undermanned 2010 Thomas Cup team. South Korea won't take home a gold medal or even a silver from Olympic badminton for the first time, but Chung Jae-sung and Lee Yong-dae ensured they won't leave London without a medal by winning the men's doubles bronze . The top-ranked Chung and Lee, upset in the semifinals the day before, rebounded to beat Koo Kien Keat and Tan Boon Heong of Malaysia 23-21, 21-10. Ainslie top Olympic sailor Britain's Ben Ainslie crossed the finish line and pumped both fists, then stood up in his Finn dinghy and did it again. Ainslie won his fourth straight gold medal and fifth games medal overall Sunday to eclipse Denmark's Paul Elvstrom as the most decorated sailing Olympian ever. Elvstrom won four straight gold medals from 1948-60, including three in the Finn class. The son of a sailor, Ainslie clinched the historic gold by finishing ninth in the Finn class medals race. All Ainslie had to do was finish ahead of Denmark's Jonas Hoegh, who had led the London Olympics regatta from Race 1. The Dane finished 10th and took the silver. France's Jonathan Lobert claimed the bronze. — Agencies
