On badminton finals day

second game, having already won the first, I was just looking to conserve energy and get ready for the third game,” the 34-year-old said.

“This is my first time to New Zealand. I have not won a tournament yet this year and I have prepared well for the New Zealand Open and I am pleased that I have been able to win in front of such a wonderful crowd of supporters.”

Lin hinted that this might not be a one-off visit to New Zealand.

“I have enjoyed my time here and of course I would like to come back and defend my title if everything allows me the chance to do so,” he said.

The women’s singles top seed, Sayaka Takahashi of Japan, lived up to her billing, beating unseeded Chinese player Zhang Yiman 21-13 21-14.

However, Zhang can expect her world ranking of 119 to rise considerably.

The mixed doubles final of the Barfoot & Thompson-sponsored event went to three games, before Taipei’s third-seeded Wang Chi-Lin and Lee Chia Hsin prevailed over South Koreans Seo Seung Jae and Chae Yujung, the fifth seeds, 21-19 14-21 21-19.

Wang used his powerful aerial game and smash to good effect, combining brilliantly with Lee who prowled the net and defended superbly. The game could have gone either way, with small moments deciding the contest.

“Playing the Koreans was quite difficult. We have played them before and lost twice and we have not handled the game of Seo well at all, he has always been tough to counter,” said Wang.

The women’s doubles provided a career highlight for Japan’s Ayako Sakuramoto and Yukiko Takahata, runners-up in last year’s tournament, who beat China’s Cao Tong Wei and Yu Zheng 21-9 21-19.

The Japanese pair always had the match under control against their more powerful Chinese opponents.

“We have never played this pair before but recognised their strength was in their power. We had to make sure we did not make mistakes, keep getting the shuttle back and stay in every point for as long as we could,” said Sakuramoto of their tactics, which worked a treat.

A Taipei combination also won the men’s doubles.

World No 7 and top seeds Chen and Wang edged out second-seeded Indonesians Berry Angriawan and Hardianto 21-17 21-17 to repeat their victory of last year.