Gwangju: China’s two-time Olympic champion Lin Dan needed 86 minutes to see off home shuttler Lee Dong Keun in the Korea Masters first round that took place at Gwangju Women’s University Stadium on Wednesday.
With the support from home crowd, Lee was leading for most of the first set before Lin overtook the lead at 18-17. However, Lin made several uncharacteristic mistakes at the end of first game to lose at 19-21.
Lin remained patient by winning the second game 21-14. In the decider, Lin was leading at 11-6 during the mid-game interval, but Lee managed to close the gap at 10-12 before Lin ran away with 21-14 in the decider.
The victory was Lin’s 11th win against the Korean, with the only loss came from last year’s US Open, where Lin retired in the second game. Lin will face another Korean player Heo Kwang Hee next.
In other men’s singles competition, last week’s Hong Kong Open champion Lee Cheuk Yiu fell to No. 7 seed Kantaphon Wangcharoen of Thailand 16-21, 15-21. Wangcharoen will meet Lin Chun-Yi of Taiwan next.
Malaysia’s men’s doubles pair Goh V Shem/Tan Wee Kiong came out victorious against compatriots Ong Yew Sin/Teo Ee Yi 21-16, 21-17 in the opener to battle Kim Gi Jung/Lee Yong Dae of Korea on Thursday.
Another Malaysian men’s pair Aaron Chia/Soh Wooi Yik overcame Na Sung Seung/Wang Chan of Korea 21-13, 21-14 to play Taiwan’s Lee Yang/Wang Chi-Lin in the final 16.
