KUALA LUMPUR: Lee Chong Wei will have another bite at the cherry as he takes on five-time world champion Lin Dan of China in the semi-finals of the Badminton Asia Championships (BAC) in Wuhan, China on Saturday.
On Friday, Chong Wei, who is also defending champion made easy work of Taiwan’s Hsu Jen Hao with a 21-18, 21-13 win in the quarter-finals.
Lin Dan, a four-time Asian champion defeated Taiwan’s Chou Tien Chen 21-14, 21-12 in the other quarter-final tie.
The last encounter between the two badminton greats, ended with Lin Dan dashing Chong Wei’s hopes of winning his 12th Malaysia Open crown earlier this month in Kuching.
Chong Wei, on the other hand, last defeated his nemesis in the semi-finals of the Rio Olympic Games last year.
Head to head record, however, favours the two-time Olympic champion who has defeated the Malaysian world No. 1 in 25 previous meetings and only lost 11.
The other men’s singles semi-final sees China’s youngster Shi Yuqi take on second seed and teammate Chen Long.
Meanwhile, it was the end of the road for Malaysia’s women’s doubles Vivian Hoo Kah Mun-Woon Khe Wei and mixed doubles duo Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing.
Vivian-Khe Wei lost 21-16, 21-10 to top seeds Misaki Matsutomo-Ayaka Takahashi of Japan, while Kian Meng-Pei Jing went down 21-11, 21-19 to All England champions Lu Kai-Huang Yaqiong of China.