Déjà Vu for Lin Dan – Day 3: YONEX All England Open 2018
In a scene that has played out in countless venues around the world, Lin Dan had all the answers to outsmart his arch-rival, Lee Chong Wei, in tonight’s quarter-final of the YONEX All England Open Badminton…
· GAYLE ALLEYNE
In a scene that has played out in countless venues around the world, Lin Dan had all the answers to outsmart his arch-rival, Lee Chong Wei, in tonight’s quarter-final of the YONEX All England Open Badminton Championships 2018.
Though a packed Arena Birmingham urged on the Malaysian star, his opposite number snuffed him out in straight games – 21-16 21-17; in the process knocking out the defending Men’s Singles champion and No.2 seed.
Perhaps conserving energy for the weekend, 34-year-old Lin (featured image) gave an efficiently clinical performance, raising his level and unleashing incisive attacks at just the right moments to gain important advantages – all wrapped around rock-solid defence. There was always the sense that he was in control and that the result would ultimately be decided by his racket and the match duly unfolded as such. Try as he did – and has done for much of his illustrious career – Lee failed to conjure up much to trouble the Chinese icon who has frustratingly stood between him and glory in numerous instances.