Hendrawan wins world badminton

Indonesia's H. Hendrawan, badminton silver medallist at the Sydney Olympics, took handsome compensation on Sunday, winning the world title with a 15-6, 17-16 success in the final over Denmark's Peter Gade.

Hendrawan, 29, and a familiar face on the circuit, was seeded only 14 but carried too much armoury for the second-seeded Dane.

China's Gong Ruina won the women's singles title, beating compatriot Zhou Mi 11-9, 11-4 in the final.

Gade, the only European to mount a serious challenge to the Asian domination of the tournament, had two game points in the second game to claw his way back. But the experienced Hendrawan closed the door on both occasions and then took the title on his second match point.

Hendrawan enjoyed a huge slice of luck in Saturday's semifinals as he trailed compatriot Taufik Hidayat 11-15, 15-5, 1-7 when the younger man had to retire with a groin injury.

"That was a present for me yesterday, but today I gave myself a present," said the new titleholder.

"People look on me as the 'old man' but I have proved today I am not."

Gade, who helped Denmark to the semifinals of the Sudirman Cup the previous week, said: "I have only lost one match in two weeks but unfortunately it was today's final."

In the semi-finals on Saturday, Gade had defeated World No.4 All England runner-up Chen Hong of China 17-14, 15-2.