Badminton: Christensen's title

WORLD NO one Peter Gade Christensen won his first All England title yesterday with a hard-fought 15-11, 7-15, 15-10 victory over the Indonesian teenager Taufik Hidayat.

The experienced Dane had to fight all the way against the 17-year-old Hidayat, the youngest finalist in the men's singles since the Open era began.

Christensen edged clear from 11-11 in the first game, but trailed in the second. Hidayat recovered from 0-5 in the decider to level at 6-6, but Christensen won a number of key points as he stretched away to the title. It was the third time this decade the championship had gone to Denmark. Hidayat, seeded nine, had served notice in the past few months that he was improving quickly.

Hidayat is the second youngest player in All England history to reach the men's singles final. Only his compatriot Rudy Hartono stands ahead of him after reaching his first final at the age of 16 in 1968. Clearly, he is the find of the tournament.