Paris 2024 badminton: All results, as Chinese Taipei's Lee Yang and Wang Chi-lin go back to back in men's doubles
Lee Yang of Chinese Taipei put an emphatic period to his career - an Olympic gold medal.
Lee and Wang Chi-lin became the first pair in badminton history to win the men’s doubles twice after an intense 21-17, 18-21, 21-19 victory over the People's Republic of China's Liang Weikeng and Wang Chang at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 on Sunday, 4 August.
The Tokyo 2020 champions also struck the first gold for their country. Afterwards, Lee said he has played the final match of his career.
“This is my last time - which is why I kissed the court to bid a proper farewell,” said Lee, who turns 29 in eight days. “I will go to school to become an instructor and hopefully I can help develop the game of badminton.”
The Malaysian pair of Aaron Chia and Wooi Yik Soh defeated Denmark's Kim Astrup and Anders Skaarup Rasmussen for their second successive bronze.
Malaysia's Aaron Chia and Wooi Yik Soh won bronze again on Sunday as they did at Tokyo 2020
Lee and Wang go the distance
The match lasted 76 minutes and had Porte de la Chapelle Arena rocking. The contest was so close a third game looked to be all but a certainty from the start. The biggest lead all match was a mere four points by the winners in the decisive set.
Wang Chang said it was arguably the toughest match he and his partner played in recent memory.
“The difference in the third game was two points,” Wang said. “I think it was one of the most intense matches we have played recently.”
Lee admitted the three-year journey from Tokyo to back-to-back titles was a torturous one, one that drew some criticism in his homeland.
But he said the duo used it as a source of motivation in becoming the first men from Chinese Taipei to win multiple Olympic gold medals - in any sport.
“When we won in Tokyo, not many people knew us. Now people recognise us,” Lee said. “We did not play well last year. We heard some people say that we were not good enough to represent our country.
“But despite being drawn into the toughest group, we still came away with a gold medal.”
Added Wang Chi-lin: “We did experience a lot of ups and downs but we managed to find a way to win. After the draw we knew every match would be difficult.
“We grew amid all the negative comments. Our efforts were totally worth it.”
The badminton competition closes on Monday with the two singles finals.
Badminton: Men's doubles podium
Gold: Lee Yang/Wang Chi-lin, Chinese Taipei
Silver: Liang Weikeng/Wang Chang, People's Republic of China
Bronze: Aaron Chia/Wooi Yik Soh, Malaysia