Lin Dan has no plan to retire after London Olympics
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China's top badminton player Lin Dan said on Wednesday he has no plan to retire after next year's London Olympics.
"So long as the national team does not kick me out, I will play on," Lin told a press conference after beating South Korean player Wan Ho Shon in the preliminary round of the Singapore Open.
Lin won the match 21-14 and 21-15, but said it was not as easy as the scoreline suggested.
"The competition is intense for the men's singles. So if you don't try your best, you may lose, either the first round or the final," he said. "I respect each players on the other side, because you become what you are by playing against them."
The Singapore Open was the first superseries in the qualifying period for the London Olympics that started from May. It attracted nine of the world's top ten players in men's singles and almost all the best players in women's singles.
Lin, 28, has achieved a "Grand Slam" of major titles, including the Olympic and world championship gold medals, but never won the men's singles title at Singapore Open.
The world number two said it was particularly challenging to play in Singapore, citing the huge size of the stadium and the wind, but added that it is nothing unusual that players have to overcome all the challenges to win.
China's young player Chen Long, the third seed, faced an easier battle against Alamsyah Yunus. He won 21-15 and 21-7. Chen Jin lost the first set against Danish player Hans-Kristian Vittinghus but finally won the match 21-23, 21-9 and 21-10.
Indonesian star Taufik Hidayat managed to clinch a comeback victory against Malaysian Daren Liew by winning 22-24, 21-12 and 21-18.
The top three Chinese female players Wang Shixian, Wangxin and Wang Yihan all made their way through to the second round.
In women's doubles, China's Ma Jin and Pan Pan lost to Japanese top seed Miyuki Maeda and Satoko Suetsuna 19-21, 21-17 and 17-21.
