Changzhou: Five-time World Champion Lin Dan has booked his place at this August’s Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Championships that will be held August 21–27 at Emirates Arena in Glasgow, Scotland.
The two-time Olympic champion added additional 3,850 points to this “Race to Glasgow” rankings to become the second highest Chinese player on the list after Shi Yuqi, when Lin defeated compatriot Zhou Zeqi 21-14, 21-14 in 33 minutes at the China Masters on Thursday. Lin will meet Hsu Jen Hao of Taiwan in the quarter-finals after Hsu outlasted China’s Gu Junfeng 21-12, 21-12.
Meanwhile, No. 2 seed Tian Houwei also edged past teammate Lu Guangzu 21-17, 21-13 to set up a quarter-final battle with Hsueh Hsuan Yi of Taiwan.
In men’s singles, Chooi Kah Ming/Low Juan Shen were the only Malaysian players left when they knocked off Lin Shang Kai/Yang Po-Hsuan of Taiwan, winning 21-11, 21-18 in 31 minutes.
Chooi/Low must raise their level of play in the quarter-final when they play Chen Hung Ling/Wang Chi-Lin of Taiwan, after the top seeds defeated compatriots Lee Chia-Han/Tsai Chia Tsin 21-15, 23-21.
Another Malaysian pair, Mohd Razif Abdul Latif/Muhammad Hafiz Hashim, however, failed to make the quarter-final after losing to Malaysian/Indonesian pair, Tan Boon Heong/Hendra Setiawan 14-21, 14-21.
In women’s competition, No. 2 seed Aya Ohori of Japan overcame China’s Ji Shuting 21-16, 21-15 to play China’s Zhang Yiman on Friday.
