Lin Dan’s China Open exit new blow to fading Olympic hopes
- The all-time great’s hopes of qualifying for the Tokyo Games takes another hit after suffering another first-round exit
- China’s two-time Olympic champion has now lost eight times in the first round of tournaments this year but scotched reports that he is set to retire
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Lin Dan’s unlikely bid for a third Olympic gold suffered another blow on Wednesday when he lost in the first round of the China Open in Fuzhou to defending champion Chen Long.
The 36-year-old Lin, arguably the greatest badminton player of all time, won the first game 21-19 against his fellow Chinese.
But Chen, the 2016 Rio Olympics gold medallist, came back to win the next two 21-12, 21-12 and send a wilting Lin home early.
Lin, a five-time world champion and the 2008 and 2012 Olympic champion, has now lost eight times in the first round of tournaments this year.
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Once the world number one, his ranking has fallen to 18th.
Shi is coming back from an ankle problem and more injuries for him could be Lin’s best hope for making the China team for Tokyo.
Shi, the third seed, defeated South Korea’s Son Wan-Ho 21-17, 21-17.
Should Lin Dan call time on his sparkling career now and avoid potential embarrassment at a fifth Olympics?
Lin, who earned the nickname “Super Dan” during his pomp, has always said that he wanted to end his career with another tilt at Games gold.
With that prospect looking increasingly remote, Chinese media have speculated that he could announce his retirement imminently.
But the former world No 1 sotched reports that he is set to retire and said he will not give up on his unlikely bid for a third Olympic gold.
“I didn’t know about the rumours, I think it’s too early to talk about retirement,” Lin was quoted as saying by the Xinhua news agency.
“I won’t give up trying to qualify for the 2020 Olympics until the last minute.”
On Tuesday, defending Fuzhou champion Kento Momota, the world number one from Japan, defeated Daren Liew when the Malaysian retired.
Shi is coming back from an ankle problem and more injuries for him could be Lin’s best hope for making the China team for Tokyo.
Lin, who earned the nickname “Super Dan” during his pomp, has always said that he wanted to end his career with another tilt at Games gold.
With that prospect looking increasingly remote, Chinese media have speculated that he could announce his retirement imminently.
