Lin Dan of China returns the shuttle back during the badminton men's singles final against Taufik Hidayat of Indonesia at Doha Asiad, Qatar, Dec. 9, 2006.   DOHA, Dec. 10 - Indonesian Olympic champion Taufik Hidayat retained the badminton men's singles title at the 15th Asian Games here on Saturday.

 

In the blue-ribbon final, an experienced Taufik took charge in front of the net and forced Lin to make many mistakes.

 

After quickly winning the first set 21-15, the 25-year-old Indonesian top shuttler encountered a strong comeback from world champion Lin.

 

Lin overcame a 11-9 down in the second set by collecting six points in a row, and grabbed three match points at 20-17.

 

However, a self-composed Taufik patiently dealt with Lin and clinched a 22-20 victory through Lin's misplays.

 

Before Taufik pulled off Indonesia's only badminton gold at Doha Asian Games, veteran Wang Chen beat her teenage teammate Yip Pui Yin in the women's singles final, grabbing the first ever badminton gold at Asiad for Hong Kong, China.

 

The 30-year-old Wang joined forces with 19-year-old Yip in the final after beating world number two Xie Xingfang of China in the semifinals.

 

Yip surprisingly finished off world number one Zhang Ning of China in the quarterfinals.

 

Wang hit long shuttles a lot to restrain Yip's smashes, wrapping up the game 21-14 and 22-20.

 

Previously, the Hong Kong shuttlers only pulled off two bronzes at the 2002 Asian Games in Busan, including Wang's women's singles bronze.

 

Besides, newly-combined Malaysian pair Koo Kien Keat and Tan Boon Heong won the only gold for Malaysia in the men's doubles finals.

 

Gao Ling and Huang Sui notched up the fourth gold for China after beating their teammates Yang Wei and Zhang Jiewen in the women's doubles final.

 

The 27-year-old Gao became the most prolific winner in the badminton competition in Doha, as she also clinched the women's team and mixed doubles gold.