‘Super Dan’ braced for worlds comeback

Badminton great to emerge from nearly a year on the sidelines.

HONG KONG: Badminton great Lin Dan will finally make a comeback after nearly a year on the sidelines to defend his world title next week, with Lee Chong Wei hoping to beat his nemesis in a major final.

The four-time world champion, handed a controversial wildcard to compete in Guangzhou, has played just three competitive matches this year and conceded a walkover in the Asian championships in April, before skipping the Indonesia and Singapore Opens citing injury.

Despite his low ranking, 29-year-old ‘Super Dan’ was awarded the world championships’ only men’s singles wildcard due to his ‘stature and fan appeal’ — a move that went down badly with Lee.

“What about the others who have worked hard to qualify for the event?” Lee told Malaysia’s The Star newspaper. “Rather than qualifying, I should have waited for a wildcard too.”

Published in The Express Tribune, August 5^th, 2013.

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