KUALA LUMPUR: China's badminton legend Lin Dan continues to uphold his reputation as the sport's greatest of all time, even after his retirement.
Having retired exactly four years ago, the two-time Olympic champion's legacy endures as he gives back to the sport, with the Lin Dan Cup being one of his major contributions.
On June 16, Malaysian independent shuttler Cheam June Wei made headlines by earning a substantial 200,000 yuan (RM130,000) for winning the Lin Dan Cup's Shenzhen Badminton Open.
To put this into perspective, that amount is nearly equivalent to the prize money for a Super 500 tournament on the BWF World Tour.
For instance, when Denmark's reigning Olympic champion Viktor Axelsen won the Malaysia Masters in May, he took home US$31,500 (RM148,000).
Lin Dan recently explained why he allocated such a substantial prize for the men's singles competition in his tournament.
In an interview with social media influencer, 'Xiao Er Kui Yu Lang Ba', on the Chinese platform Douyin (equivalent to TikTok), Lin Dan said: "Sports can transform life. I came from a very ordinary family. Because of my efforts and also assistance from many parties, I'm able to stand tall in my profession.
"Truly I have changed the living conditions of my parents and also my own life.
"I know many young players may not be able to join the national team. They do not have may platform for them to prove themselves, especially in today's society.
"So I organise Lin Dan Cup, particularly the category of men's singles. First, we have raised the prize money from 150,000 yuan last year to 200,000 yuan this year.
"Besides that we have four to five tournaments per year. This is our plan to have this kind of scale.
"From mixed team category, the prize money is 300,000. If one can play in all categories, he will potentially earn a total of 1.2 million yuan."
Lin Dan went on to add that top performers would gain not only monetary rewards but also the recognition they deserve.
In Cheam June Wei's case, the victory was a significant boost for a player who has struggled to make a name for himself despite once being touted as the next big thing in Malaysian badminton.
His image received a considerable boost, especially after triumphing in front of a 6,000-strong crowd at Bao'an Stadium in Shenzhen. The news of his victory was reported not only in China, with its population of 1.4 billion, but also worldwide.
The win did wonders for June Wei's confidence. The following week, he reached the final of the Kaohsiung Masters Super 100 in Taiwan.
"I think it's not merely about money," said Lin Dan."Because you'll be known by more people in this platform. More people will recognise you, so I think the value is doubled.
"I hope those who play in the men's singles can keep their passion, This is because every player has to face the fact that their stamina and ability will deteriorate as they grow older.
"I hope they can treasure this valuable and limited time to deliver their talent and value as much as they can."