BEIJING - World top-ranked badminton player Lin Dan said on Friday that he was a better player than Taufik Hidayat in the year of 2006 despite losing the Asian Games singles title to the Indonesian Olympic champion.

China's Lin Dan reacts after losing a point to Indonesia's Taufik Hidayat during their men's badminton team league stage semi-finals at the Asian Games in Doha December 4, 2006. [Reuters]

Indonesia's Taufik Hidayat clinches his fist after winning the men's singles badminton final against China's Lin Dan during the Asian Games in Doha December 9, 2006. [Reuters]

"I have ranked No. 1 in the world for two straight years and I think people can easily come to a conclusion on who is a better player for the whole year," said Lin Dan, also known as Super Dan.

Hidayat beat Lin 21-15, 22-20 to give Indonesia its second gold medal in Doha on December 9, retaining his Asian Games singles title and avenging two losses to the badminton world champion.

Lin, 23, led China to the men's team title after defeating Hidayat twice in three days, in the preliminary round and in the semifinals.

In their third meeting, Lin came up against a better-prepared Hidayat than he had encountered previously.

Hidayat was cheered on by the boisterous support from dancing and flag-waving Indonesian fans, who had converted the badminton arena into a national celebration even before the two players stepped on to the court.

There's been a lot of acrimony between Hidayat and Lin, who this year won the singles title in the world championships after former champion Hidayat crashed out in the quarterfinals.

In Doha, Hidayat was quoted as calling Lin "arrogant" before the event began, but the two stars played down the rift.

"It's no problem, we're close friends," said Hidayat. "The media fabricated it."

Lin said here on Friday that he and Hidayat remain friends.

"There is no problem between Taufik and me although we don't talk to each other very much," said Lin. "Media tends to make up things in order to make their stories juicy."