Lin Dan’s chance to surpass Chong Wei

Arguably the best player in badminton history, Olympic and Asian champion Lin Dan has the opportunity to put one over his long-time rival Lee Chong Wei in the Li Ning Singapore Open Superseries.

The Chinese superstar, who is the second seed in the tournament behind Indonesia's Taufik Hidayat (right), hopes to capture a title he has never won before. The three-time world champion also knows that if he qualifies for the quarter-finals, he will replace Chong Wei - who is skipping the tournament - as the No. 1 ranked player in the OSIM BWF World Superseries rankings.


The Malaysian, who is known as the 'King of the Superseries' for winning 18 Superseries titles since 2007, has dominated the rankings since the start of the Superseries four years ago. He, however, is skipping the Singapore leg as his main priority this year is the BWF World Championships in London this coming August. This has opened the door for Lin Dan, who has accumulated 25,390 points in the OSIM Standings, to lie second behind Chong Wei, who has 29,550 points. To add more spice to the tournament, the Li Ning Singapore Open Superseries is also the first Superseries in the Olympic qualifying period which began on May 1.


Lin Dan will began his campaign in Singapore with a match against South Korea's Shon Wan Ho. If, as expected he wins, he will face a daunting second round tie against either Denmark's Jan O Jorgensen or Japan's Kenichi Tago. Taufik, who triumphed in Singapore in 2001 and 2005, takes on Malaysian qualifier Liew Daren, who stunned compatriot and former All England champion Hafiz Hashim in the qualifying round on Tuesday. The tie of the first round, however, could be the meeting between defending champion Sony Dwi Kuncoro of Indonesia and 2009 champion Bao Chunlai of China.


The winner will face either Malaysian veteran Wong Choong Hann or world junior champion Viktor Axelsen. Choong Hann defeated the Dane in straight games in Thailand a week ago. Defending champion Saina Nehwal of India (left), will also face a familiar opponent, taking on 2009 world champion Lu Lan in a repeat of last week's first round tie in Bangkok. The Commonwealth Games champion was made to struggle before beating the Chinese ace in three games a week ago.


The main story, however, is which of China's top three women - Wang Shixian, Wang Yihan and Wang Xin - can help themselves to the title. Wang Shixian won the Proton Malaysia Open Superseries and the Yonex All England Open Superseries Premier while Wang Yihan took home the Victor Korean Open Superseries Premier crown. Thailand's Porntip Buranaprasertsuk is the only female singles player to win a Superseries crown this season when she won in India, but that was partly because the Chinese players skipped the event.


Source : Badminton World Federation
Photos by : BadmintonPhoto