Lin Dan, who has helped China win its fourth consecutive Thomas Cup (Men's Team World Badminton Championships), has become the world's most dominant player, said one of his longtime rivals.

"It is indeed Lin's era now," said Indonesia's former Olympic champion Taufik Hidayat, who was crushed by Lin in less than an hour in the final of the biennial tournament on May 16.

Lin, 26, nicknamed "Super Dan" by his fans, is the most prolific winner of men's world titles of all time in China, having captured 13 crowns. He is the only male player in badminton history to have won three consecutive titles at the World Championships in 2006, 2007 and 2009. He clinched the men's singles gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

Lin has often topped the world-rankings list since 2002, although Malaysia's Lee Chong Wei overtook him in 2006 and 2009.

Lin's next major goal is to win the men's singles title at the Asian Games, one of the few big ones still missing from his collection, in south China's Guangzhou in November.