Lin, Lee through to semis at badminton worlds
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E-mail Xinhua, August 9, 2013
Badminton top players Lin Dan and Lee Chong Wei both entered the men's singles semifinals by winning in straight sets at world championships in Guangzhou on Friday.
Reigning champion Lin of China has not been stretched in the first three rounds, but met hard resistance from his second-seeded teammate Chen Long in the quarterfinals.
Both of the Chinese showed formidable defense and attack skill at the start of the opening set, but Lin scored seven points in a row to build an 18-10 lead and eventually took the first set 21-13.
In the second set, Chen made quick adjustment and the score went point for point amid thunderous cheers and applause from the spectators in the Tianhe Gymnasium, from 6-all to 20-all, before Chen's return hit into the net to end the match 22-20.
Top seed Lee from Malaysia, however, barely broke a sweat in the top eight clash against Tommy Sugiarto of Indonesia, dismissing the eighth seeded 21-6, 21-9 in just 30 minutes.
Lin will take on Vietnam's Nguyen Tien Minh in the semifinals as the seventh seed defeated Jan O Jorgensen of Denmark 21-8, 17-21, 22-20 in 91 gruelling minutes.
Meanwhile, Lee will meet Chinese shuttler Du Pengyu as the third seeded won his fourth consecutive three-set match, coming from behind to beat Kashyap Parupalli of India 16-21, 22-20, 21-15.
Lin and Lee set up for a dream final last year at the London Olympic Games and the duo could repeat it again if both of them won in Saturday's semifinals.
"I still don't look ahead to the possible match against Lin. What I focus on is the next match against Du," said Lee, who lost to Lin in the finals of both Beijing and London Olympic Games.
"I know lots of people are expecting to watch the match between me and Lin, because after the London Olympics we haven't played against each other. If we could meet in the final, we hope to present our best performance."
In the women's singles, Indian PV Sindhu's giant-killing credentials rocked again. The 18-year-old sensation, who has upended reigning world champion Wang Yihan of China in the third round, continued her momentum to knock out Asian Games champion Wang Shixian 21-18, 21-17 in the quarterfinals.
Talking about her tips for stunning leading seeds, Sindhu said it is the good mindset that counts.
"When playing with players older than me, I always have a good mindset. If I lose then I will reckon it as a learning process."
Sindhu fights against another young talent Intanon Ratchanok of Thailand for a final berth after the fourth seeded outclassed Spain's dark horse Carolina Marin in three tight sets.
Olympic champion and home favorite Li Xueri maintained China's hope by defeating Tai Tzu Ying of Chinese Taipei 27-25, 21-13. Li's next opponent will be South Korea's Bae Yeon Ju, a winner over third seeded Saina Nehwal of India 23-21, 21-9.
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