JOIN USLin, Gade set up intriguing clash
Playing the second set of matches on Thursday on adjacent courts, Lin and Gade scored commanding wins over their respective opponents to renew their rivalry. Lin blasted past Dicky Palyama of the Netherlands 21-11, 21-11 while Gade brushed aside Hong Kong’s Chan Yan Kit 21-11, 21-12.
Lin was surprised with the ease with which he put out his world number 10 rival. “I had played him twice before this match, but he was tough to beat then. Today, it wasn’t that difficult,” he said.
Gade, on other hand, felt he was a bit slow on the court. “He had some good strokes. I really had to exert myself physically today. But overall, I am happy with my performance,” he remarked.
This will be the first time Lin and Gade will face each other after their Olympic showdown which the Chinese world number five won. “He is the number one in Europe and he is obviously good. It’s going to be a great match,” said Lin.
Gade, though, appeared to be playing the psychological game. “I think all the pressure is on Lin Dan because he wouldn’t want to lose against an old guy. I will give it my all. I will go for every stroke and every rally. If I can beat him in China, I can beat him here as well,” Gade noted.
Other prominent players to move into the last-eight stage were world number one Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia and Indonesian world number four Taufik Hidayat. Wei overpowered Vietnam’s Tein Minh Nguyen 21-13, 21-17 while Hidayat overcame Chinese Taipei’s Yu Hsing Hseih 21-15, 21-19.
In the women’s section, top seed Zhou Mi from Hong Kong and title contender Xie Xingfang of China advanced in contrasting ways. Zhou prevailed over Japan’s Ai Goto 21-11, 21-18 while Xie had to overcome stiff resistance from Salakjit Ponsana of Thailand before emerging a 21-16, 14-21, 21-9 winner.
Fourth seed Wang Yihan of China crashed out after an 18-21, 15-21 loss to Juliane Schenk of Germany while the top doubles women’s pair of Eei Hui Chin and Pei Tty Wong of Malaysia bit the dust after a marathon 19-21, 21-19, 12-21 loss to Japan’s Miyuki Mauda and Satoko Suetsuna.