Rasmussen dazzles Sun

The champion repeated her All-England win of two months ago over her compatriot Gong Zhichao, but this time it was less one-sided and had less of a ritual quality about it, with Ye winning 12-11, 11-8.

Sun, the third seed, was 13-6 up in the second game and 10-3 up in the third but on both occasions saw the title recede tantalisingly from his grasp, first because he grew tired and then because he was struck down with cramp.“It was the hardest and longest match I have ever played, and I completely amazed by it,” said Rasmussen after two hours and three minutes of exhausting combat.

From early in the third game, Sun was hobbling and grimacing, pausing between rallies and using every tactic he could to prolong the contest, sometimes illegally.

The umpire, Chan Chun Seng of Malaysia twice allowed Sun to take breaks of more than two minutes, once at 5-3 to apply medication to his left thigh, and again at 7-3 to put a bandage on.

Sun was also allowed to take three minutes to change ends at 8-3, and all three pauses caused an explosion of booing, with Rasmussen supporters shouting at the umpire to warn Sun for taking too long.

“I was getting angry with all the breaks, but I did not call for the referee,” said Rasmussen. “I took the view that this is just another of the obstacles you have to get over if you are to be world champion.”“There is nothing in the rules which allow for breaks for injury,” said tournament referee Torsten Berg.

“It is up to the umpire to decide in the case of cramp what is fair to both players. I wouldn’t want to comment on the umpire’s interpretation of the rule.”

Earlier Sun had survived a crisis in the first game when Rasmussen led 14-10, playing more patiently than previously in this tournament, and being prepared to rally rather than constantly to seek openings for his dangerous smash.