Chinese badminton legend Lin Dan stormed through the quarter-finals of the China Open in Fuzhou on Friday after dispensing with Hong Kong’s Hu Yun, setting up a semi-final showdown with long time rival Lee Chong Wei.
Lin, a two-time Olympic gold-medallist and five-time world champion, defeated Hu Yun, 21-8, 10-21, 21-17, in a tight back and forth match that clocked in at 52 minutes.
The former champion is now set to square off with Lee, after the Malaysian rolled past world number two Jan O. Jorgensen, 21-11, 11-21, 21-10, in late action Friday.
In other play, world number one Chen Long beat seventh ranked Viktor Axelsen in straight sets, 21-17 21-13. The win books Chen a semi-final match with South Korea’s Son Wan Ho on Saturday.
Chen has replaced Lin Dan as the top male player following his breakthrough world title triumph a year ago and the rangy 26-year-old has has also gone on to develop a rivalry with Lee.
In women’s play, world number one and Olympic bronze medalist Saina Nehwal beat Japan’s Nozomi Okuhara, 21-16, 21-13, and will face seventh ranked Wang Yihan on Saturday.
The world’s number five Wang Shixian and six Li Xuerui, both who hail from China, will meet in the other semi-final after sliding through the quaters on Friday.