Badminton: Lee, Lin secure finals spot

LONDON: World number one Lee Chong Wei and Olympic champion Lin Dan moved closer to a dream world championship final as they reached the last-eight in contrasting styles. Lee was supremely brilliant during a 21-11, 21-5 victory over Park Sung-Hwan, dominating to such an extent that the Malaysian was able to rehearse his entire range of tactical options. “You already know what I was doing,” Lee retorted when asked to comment on the wide range of options he displayed. Lin though had to graft to win 21-16, 21-13 against Lee Hyun-Il starting slowly and trailing for two-thirds of the first game. “ I tried my best,” Lin said of the win. “He [Hyun-Il] was mentally very well prepared and I am glad to have won.”

Published in The Express Tribune, August 13^th, 2011.