'Super Dan' is back to renew rivalry with Lee
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E-mail Shanghai Daily, August 5, 2013
Badminton great Lin Dan will emerge from nearly a year on the sidelines to defend his world title this week, with Lee Chong Wei hoping to beat his nemesis in a major final.
Since overcoming Lee, the world No. 1 from Malaysia, in last year's gripping Olympic gold medal match Lin has barely set foot on court, an absence which has seen his ranking plummet to 100.
The four-time world champion, handed a wildcard to compete in Guangzhou, has played just three competitive matches this year and conceded a walkover in the Asian championships in April, before skipping the Indonesia and Singapore Opens citing injury.
Despite his low ranking, 29-year-old "Super Dan" was awarded the world championships' only men's singles wildcard due to his "stature and fan appeal" — a move that didn't go down well with Lee.
"What about the others who have worked hard to qualify for the event?" Lee told Malaysia's The Star newspaper. "Rather than qualifying, I should have waited for a wildcard too."
However, Lin's return is a gift for fans, who will also be delighted after the draw placed him in the opposite side to Lee, setting up a potential final between two players who have defined an era.
Lee, 30, knows this could be his last chance to beat Lin on the big stage, after losing the last two Olympic finals to the fiercely competitive Chinese, as well as the 2011 world title match.
And Lee will be gunning for Malaysia's first ever world title off the back of wins this year in South Korea, Indonesia, India and Malaysia.
Malaysia coach Rashid Sidek said while Lin's form remained a mystery, Lee was training hard and was fully fit, unlike last year when a serious ankle injury rocked his Olympic preparations.
"Lin Dan has only played one international tournament and gave a walkover halfway through, so it is hard to gauge his form at the moment," Rashid told the New Straits Times. "I foresee Lin Dan going through as he is still a force to be reckoned with and no other player can perform better against Chong Wei in a major final like he does.
"However, Chong Wei should back himself with his current form and an exciting final is on the cards. We are keeping our fingers crossed."
Lee is on course to meet Chinese seeds Wang Zhengming and Du Pengyu, while Lin will come up against the No. 2 seed Chen Long if both players make it to the quarterfinals. Chinese star Chen, 24, beat Lee to take the All England title in March.
China's Olympic champion Li Xuerui and reigning world title-holder Wang Yihang, who are first and second in the women's singles rankings, are also set for a showdown after being named in opposite sides of the draw.
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