Chinese shuttler Lin Dan, nicknamed Super Dan for his dominance on the court, is the most favorite for the gold at the Beijing Olympic Games, said Park Sung Hwan from South Korea after losing to Lin on Tuesday.
"He is the one who is most likely to win the championship if he keeps the form," said Park who ranks No. 11 in the world.
"Lin is superb on speed and judgment. He is strong on every part of the court," Park added. He lost to Lin 8-21, 11-21 on Tuesday evening in the round of last 16.
Just before Lin's victory to enter the quarterfinals, Peter Gade from Denmark, who also qualified for the quarterfinals, commented, "Lin Dan has no weaknesses and is the favourite for the gold."
Lin said after the competition against Park that he had not expected such a landslide victory and was also amazed by his own performance. "I will try to keep being in form and do my best in every match afterwards."
It was the first time for Park to participate in the Olympic Games, and Lin said Park might have been nervous.
Lin and the world No. 2 Lee Chong Wei, from Malaysia, are setting the trend of the badminton sport at the moment.
Lin, also a favorite for the Athens Olympic Games, was eliminated in his first match four years ago by former Singaporean dark horse Ronald Susilo. However, Susilo was eliminated early at the Beijing Games.
(Xinhua News Agency August 12, 2008)