The victory foiled another Chinese clean-sweep of the five
titles on offer following total domination at the China Masters last week and
the world championships in Paris in August.
But China still ended 4-1 with triumphs in the women's
singles, the men's and women's doubles and the mixed doubles.
Chong Wei's success was some compensation for his shock
defeat in the world championships where both he and Lin exited in the quarterfinals.
Olympic champion Lin got back on track a week ago with
victory in the final of China Masters but on Sunday he was out-toughed in an
80-minute marathon by Chong Wei.
The Japan Open is the eighth of the 12-strong Super Series
tournaments, which culminate in the finals early next year. China's next big
focus is the Asian Games in Guangzhou in November.
In the women's, unseeded 2002 world junior champion Jiang
Yanjiao, who eliminated fellow Chinese Lu Lan and Wang Shixian on her way to
the final, shocked world No.1 Wang Xin 23-21, 21-18 to claim the title.
"This is my second victory in the Japan Open. I
targeted my goal this year to win the All England and the Japan Open, so I'm
very happy that I won both of them," said Lee.
"I couldn't play well in the Thomas Cup and I got an
injury in Paris and failed to win the world championships. Now I'm going to aim
at the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games in November."
