Golden-shoed Lin avoids Rio slip-up

AFP, RIO DE JANEIRO: Chinese badminton legend Lin Dan, wearing golden shoes, avoided an opening match banana skin against Austrian David Obernosterer on the first day of Olympic badminton on Thursday.
'Super' Dan, at 32 likely tackling his last Olympics, is in Brazil to win a third consecutive Olympic title.
His two gold medals were secured by defeats of his great rival Lee Chong Wei in Beijing and London.
Together Lin and the Malaysian maestro have reigned over badminton in spectacular fashion for a decade.
Dan, the third seed in Brazil, despatched Obernosterer 21-5, 21-11 and afterwards admitted to being relieved to get that one out of the way.
“This was my first match and I still feel like I need to get into the zone to get properly prepared.
“At every Olympic Games anything can happen that nobody can predict, so I did my best to win.”
Lin, who has only lost one singles match at an Olympics, his very first one at Athens in 2004, then passed comment on his distinctive golden footwear.
“They are very shiny and attractive and people like looking at them. That's why I wear them."
Top seed Lee, 33, enjoyed an even smoother opening match test, seeing off Surinam's Soren Opti - a massive 325 rungs below him in the rankings - 21-2, 21-3.

Golden-shoed Lin avoids Rio slip-up

AFP, RIO DE JANEIRO: Chinese badminton legend Lin Dan, wearing golden shoes, avoided an opening match banana skin against Austrian David Obernosterer on the first day of Olympic badminton on Thursday. Super Dan, at 32 likely tackling his last Olympics, is in Brazil to win a third consecutive Olympic title. His two gold medals were secured by defeats of his great rival Lee Chong Wei in Beijing and London. Together Lin and the Malaysian maestro have reigned over badminton in spectacular fashion for a decade. Dan, the third seed in Brazil, despatched Obernosterer 21-5, 21-11 and afterwards admitted to being relieved to get that one out of the way. This was my first match and I still feel like I need to get into the zone to get properly prepared. At every Olympic Games anything can happen that nobody can predict, so I did my best to win. Lin, who has only lost one singles match at an Olympics, his very first one at Athens in 2004, then passed comment on his distinctive golden footwear. They are very shiny and attractive and people like looking at them. Thats why I wear them. Top seed Lee, 33, enjoyed an even smoother opening match test, seeing off Surinams Soren Opti - a massive 325 rungs below him in the rankings - 21-2, 21-3.