Chinese shuttler Lin Dan, nicknamed Super Dan for his dominance on the badminton court, succeeded in moving one more step forward at the Beijing Olympic Games, by beating Peter Gade from Denmark and advancing into the semifinals.
Lin beat Gade at 21-13, 21-16.
Lin kept a low profile after Thursday's victory, saying Lee Chong Wei and Lee Hyun-il, both in the semifinals, "were better than me, as they have beaten me at their home courts."
He said he would try to "challenge" the two Lees.
Lin was haunted by an early defeat at the Athens Olympic Games four years. At the Beijing Games, he said he took it seriously in every single game and rally.
Lin, with a world No. 1 ranking, was the most favorite to win the men's singles gold at the Beijing Olympics. His teammate Chen Jin has also advanced into the semifinals.
Gade, 33, said he planned to retire after the World Championships next year.
"This is my best ever match. However, Lin was in very good form and I failed to improve my accuracy," said Gade.
He said before the fight against Lin that the Chinese player has "no weaknesses and is the favourite for the gold."
Lin and world No. 2 Lee Chong Wei, from Malaysia, are setting the trend of the badminton sport at the moment.
Lin's girlfriend and teammate Xie Xingfang, the world No. 1 women's singles player, has also checked into the semifinals.
However, Lee Chong Wei's girlfriend and No. 8 seed Wong Mew Choo was eliminated in the quarterfinals by Lu Lan from China.
(Xinhua News Agency August 14, 2008)