It looks like contact to me, but nearly impossible for the umpire to see it. A challenge/review rule similar to the NFL would be nice
Actually from Tour 100 and up even though tour 100 is not part of the official world tour. It still counts towards the guangzhou.
Perhaps because he showed almost no fight in the third game? Lin Dan is the GOAT for sure - but he's not much of a fighter. Pathetic attitude in the final game for a 6 time champion.
As a Japanese fan, I find it difficult to listen to the commentary of Morten/Steen whenever JPN pairs play against Juhl/Ped.
I believe if the match were played in the early rounds up to QFs, Lin Dan would come out on top just as he did against the redoubtable LCW. I suspect after beating LCW with aggressive play, Lin Dan was 1/3rd if not half spent, and then Huang Yuxiang pushing him to three games in the SF stretched him thin to half spent force. In the final, had Lin Dan taken G1 instead of losing it narrowly, 19-21, he might have a better chance of beating the top form and much improved Shi Yuqi, perhaps in two straight games even, who knows. Nevertheless, take nothing away from Shi Yuqi who played excellent throughout the tournament, disposing of the likes of Lee Hyun Il, Chen Long, Son Wan Ho and Lin Dan, to crown himself All England Champion, a highly prestigious, top tier tournament that many top players are gunning for.
I must say there is a lack of interception in Fukushima and Hirota's game that is a bit frustrating to watch.
So because he fought hard in the second game, it's OK to give up in the final game? I have a tremendous amount of respect for Lin Dan, but IMO he tends to give up or at least lose his will to fight 100% for everything, when things are not going his way. That's how it looks in my eyes. You're free to disagree, but I'm offering you some perspective as to why his fight is not being acknowledged more. You're comparison of Lin Dan/Yamaguchi and Shi Yuqi/Tai Tzu Ying is hilarious by the way.
