Lin Dan to skip international matches for rest of year

Lin Dan of China celebrates on the podium after winning the men’s singles final against Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia during the Badminton World Championships at the Tianhe Gymnasium on August 11, 2013 in Guangzhou, China. (Getty Images)

Beijing, Sep 12 (IANS): Badminton superstar Lin Dan announced that he will skip all international events on the 2013 calendar after winning his third straight Chinese National Games singles title.

“I don’t need to prove myself through competition anymore,” said Lin, who beat world No.3 Du Pengyu 21-18, 21-5 in the final Wednesday, reports Xinhua.

Lin, who just made a successful return to action at the Guangzhou world championships, said he will return to China’s national team in February 2014.

“I hope to spend more time with my family,” he said. “I want to enjoy the life.”

“But I will play for the national badminton league which starts this October,” he added.

Lin, who represents the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), had also won the gold medals in the 2005 and 2009 National Games. This year, he led the PLA to win their first bronze medal in men’s team event.

“I feel very proud of that. It’s my fourth National Games. I entered the finals all the time and took third consecutive crown,” said Lin, who took the badminton world title for the fifth time last month after one year off since the London Olympics.

“The gold medals from world championships and National Games prove the efficiency of my daily training,” added Lin.