Fuzhou: The Beijing and London Olympic champion Lin Dan will take on Rio Olympic champion Chen Long for the third time this season in the first round of Fuzhou China Open on Wednesday.
Lin, who is bidding for his fifth Olympic appearance at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic, earned himself a chance of revenge for his loss to Chen in the French Open second round on October 24, 2019, when the five-time World Champion lost to Chen 15-21, 16-21.
Shi Yuqi who just came back from an ankle injury and fell short at last Sunday’s Macau Open final, will open against Son Wan Ho of Korea in the first round.
Meanwhile, on day one of the Fuzhou China Open, men’s singles No. 1 seed Kento Momota was hardly troubled by Daren Liew of Malaysia in a one-sided contest as he converted the first set 21-17 before Liew retired in the second set.
“I got a cold before I arrived in Fuzhou. I have never defeated Momota, but I felt like I couldn’t execute my game plan due to the illness,” said Liew.
Momota will face another Malaysian player, Lee Zii Jia in the second round.
Lee, on the other hand, defeated Loh Kean Yew of Singapore 19-21, 21-18, 21-12 to advance to the second round.
In men’s doubles, Malaysia’s Goh V Shem/Tan Wee Kiong have crashed out of the tournament when they lost to No. 1 seeds Marcus Fernaldi Gideon/Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo of Indonesia 15-21, 16-21. This was Goh/Tan’s fourth defeat to Gideon/Sukamuljo of the season.
