Instant Classic in Auckland – NZ Open: Day 4
Fans at the BARFOOT & THOMPSON New Zealand Open 2019 ran out of superlatives on quarterfinals night in Auckland.
· New Zealand Badminton
It was billed as a great match and it certainly lived up to that hype as two-time Olympic champion Lin Dan defeated top seed Anthony Sinisuka Ginting in their blockbuster quarterfinal clash, 25-23 6-21 21 12.
Lin Dan took the first game, but only after squandering four game points at 20-16. Ginting turned the tables in the second, easing out to an 11-4 lead and then consolidated that at 21-6.
However, questions as to whether Lin Dan had the stamina to fight back were quickly answered as the defending champion went out to an 8-2 lead. From there it was relatively smooth sailing for the Chinese legend.