Lee and Lin ousted from badminton worlds
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Title favorites Lee Chong Wei from Malaysia and Lin Dan of China both suffered quarterfinal exit at the Badminton World Championships on Friday.
World number one Lee won nine of the previous 14 matches against Indonesian ace Taufik Hidayatat, but lost to the former Olympic and world champion 15-21, 21-11 and 12-21 as he was troubled by a back injury.
"I couldn't find my rhythm today, I felt pain on my back," said Lee who said he caught the injury in Thursday's match. "I tried my best but when I led the third set in 10-7, I injured my back again for striking a high ball."
Hidayatat said he was surprised to take the victory and was asked about his expectation for a possible clash with Lin in the semifinals.
However, After a 40-minute encounter, the three-time world champion and reigning Olympic champion Lin lost to South Korea's Park Sung Hwan in 13-21 and 13-21.
Park, 25, lost twice at the men's team event Thomas Cup finals this May, but dominated the match firmly on Friday. He had never rendered the lead to Lin after the 2-2 tie in the opening set, then dropped the third seed behind comfortably after the 8-8 tie in the second set.
"I didn't felt regret, because I have never anticipated to clinch four consecutive win at the World Championships," said Lin, the long-time top shuttler in China. "I just want to play well in every match."
Lin's teammate Chen Jin set up a clash with world number two Peter Gade as the fourth seed came from behind to overcome Hsueh Hsuan-yi from Chinese Taipei 22-24, 21-5, 21-13.
The 33-year-old Gade met strong challenges from Japanese Kazushi Yamada, but managed to beat his rival 21-19 and 21-12.
Although the women's singles top seed Wang Yihan suffered exit from the quarterfinals by Eriko Hirose of Japan on Thursday, Wang' s three teammates from China advanced into the semifinals on Friday.
The seventh seed Wang Lin made revenge for Wang Yihan by beating the 10th seed Hirose, 21-16, 21-17. She is going to meet the fourth seed Tine Baun from Denmark as the 31-year-old won over Cheng Shao-chieh from Chinese Taipei 21-18, 21-13.
The other semifinal will be played by Wang Xin and Wang Shixian. Wang Xin ended the host's hope as she sent off Pi Hongyan in straight sets.
The Men's doubles top seed Koo Kien Keat and Tan Boon Heong from Malaysia edged out South Korean's seventh seeds Jung Jae Sung and Lee Yong Dae 23-25, 21-13 and 21-14.
The women's doubles will see three Chinese pairs in the semifinals including Olympic champion Du Jing and Yu Yang.
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