Kuala Lumpur: Lin Dan will have to qualify to play in the main draw of Japan Open.
Nevertheless, he should be able to roll through Kazumasa Sakai in his first qualifying match; he will probably play Daren Liew of Malaysia for a spot in the main draw. If everything goes well, Lin Dan will face Chong Wei Feng of Malaysia in the second round.
Two week after suffering a heart breaking defeat to Takuma Euda in the Thomas Cup final, Daren Liew said he is ready to move.
“Frankly, it’s difficult to get over the Thomas Cup lost. But I think I am ready to open a new chapter in my career. I am now very healthy and I am confident enough to start competing again,” said Daren Liew.
“It’s very likely I will face Lin Dan in the second round of the qualifying. I was able to win the first game against Lin Dan 21-17 at the Thomas Cup Finals in Wuhan two years, and hopefully this time I can put up a good fight too.”
On the other half of the main draw, four-time Japan Open champion Lee Chong Wei may possibly face Japan’s Kenichi Tago, India’s Srikanth and Indonesia’s Sony Dwi Kuncoro on his way to the final.
If all goes right, we are expected to see a head-to-head showdown between Lee Chong Wei and Lin Dan in the Japan Open final.
