China's top two players Lin Dan and Chen Jin both made it to the
quarterfinals of the US$250,000 China Open badminton
championships?in Guangzhou?on Thursday.
Lin Dan, the world champion, ousted fellow Chinese Lu Qicheng
21-16 and 21-14 as the 23-year-old dominated the whole match.
Lu who tried hard but failed to catch up and lost the first set
16-21, once led 8-2 in the second before Lin found his rhythm
quickly to tie 11-all and won eventually 21-14.
In the quarterfinals, Lin will meet teammate Chen Hong who beat
Palyama Dicky from Netherlands 21-9 and 21-16.
Chen Jin, the second seed of China, eliminated Kuan Beng Hong
from Malaysia 21-11 and 21-9.
Chen surged ahead 7-0 in the first set, allowing his opponent no
chance of catching up throughout.
In the women's singles, Zhang Ning, the Japan Open champion,
thrashed Meulendijks Judith from Netherlands 21-17 and 21-10, while
world champion Xie Xinfang suffered an upset, losing to teammate
Wang Yihan 21-14, 19-21 and 15-21.
(Xinhua News Agency?October 20, 2006)
