Wuhan: There will be no Lee Chong Wei vs. Lin Dan final at this year’s Badminton Asia Championships. Lee Chong Wei and Lin Dan have been drawn in the same half of the draw, while Chen Long and Son Wan Ho could meet in the other semifinal, if the seeds hold.
Lee of Malaysia, a two-time champ at the tournament, will open his bid for a third title in Wuhan with a first-round tilt with Japan’s Kazumasa Sakai.
The Malaysian would face Tommy Sugiarto of Indonesia in the second round, last week’s China Masters winner Tian Houwei of China in the quarterfinals if the seeds hold.
Lin Dan will open with Lee Dong Keun of Korea in the first round. Lin is slated to face Vincent Wong Wing Ki in the second round, and possibly Chou Tien Chen in the quarterfinals.
Meanwhile, Chen Long will open with Philippines’ qualifier Ros Leonard Pedrosa, and could meet Angus Ng Ka Long in the quarters.
In women’s singles, after winning bronze medal at the Gimcheon Asia Championships three years ago, Rio Olympic silver medalist P.V Sindhu will lead the Indian’s challenge at the Wuhan edition, starting on Wednesday.
The 21-year-old Sindhu who started the 2017 season by winning both Syed Modi Grand Prix Gold in January and the India Super Series title in early April, will take on Indonesia’s Dinar Dyah Ayustine in the opening round.
Women’s singles World No. 1 Tai Tzu Ying will have a first round bye, and will meet the winner between Thi Trang (B) Vu of Vietnam or Fitriani Fitriani of Indonesia in the second round.
