Changzhou: Five-time World Champion Lin Dan will be assured of a World Championships berth if he wins the next match against his junior 19-year-old Zhou Zeqi at the China Masters in Changzhou, China on Thursday.
Lin received a bye in the first round, and defeated Zheng Qin of Chile in the second round 21-15, 21-11 on Wednesday.
“I need to remain competitive for every tournament I play,” said Lin Dan after the match.
Men’s singles No. 2 seed Tian Houwei of China also had a first round bye, he overcame compatriot Guo Kai 21-18, 21-15 in the second round. Tian will play his teammate Lu Guangzu in the third round.
Malaysia’s men’s singles player Soong Joo Ven put up a spirited fight before going down to No. 5 seed Hsu Jen Hao of Taiwan 20-22, 21-17, 19-21 in the men’s second round.
After dropping a set, the Indonesia/Malaysia duo of Hendra Setiawan/Tan Boon Heong edged past men’s doubles No. 8 seeds Liao Kuan Hao/Lu Chia Pin of Taiwan 21-16, 18-21, 21-12 to take on Malaysian pair Mohd Razif Abdul Latif/Muhammad Hafiz Hashim on Thursday.
In the women’s competition, China’s top seed Chen Yufei saw off Japan’s Haruko Suzuki 21-11, 21-17 in 45 minutes while No. 2 seed Aya Ohori of Japan outlasted China’s Wang Zhiyi 21-15, 21-19.
