New Delhi:
Five time world champion Lin Dan remained on course for a record-breaking sixth men's singles title at the World Championships in Glasgow with an impressive straight games quarter-final win over Hong Kong's Wong Wing Ki Vincent.
However, Carolina Marin crashed out of the tournament after succumbing to a 19-21, 21-14, 15-21 defeat to Japan's Nozomi Okuhara. Marin, champion in 2014 and 2015 and Olympic gold medallist last year, had come through two easy matches but more than met her match against the dogged No.7 seed.
"I am very happy, but also very tired," said Okuhara. "Carolina is a very speedy player. At the start of the third and in tough points in the match I was telling myself 'You can do it, you can do it!' Now I want the gold medal." Dan, 33, hasn't won the title since 2013, but he is guaranteed at least a bronze medal after the 21-17, 21-18 victory.
After two three game matches, the veteran was delighted to get on and off court within the hour. "I really enjoyed today's match," he said. "I am very happy that I managed to minimise my opponent's performance. It was good to get it done quicker today and I expect to perform fully to my 100% tomorrow."
In the semi-finals, the Chinese great shall clash with the new world No.1 from South Korea, Son Wan Ho. Dan's first world medal was a silver in 2005 - he then won the title in 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011 and 2013.
For Son, it is the prospect of a first major title that spurs him on. He cruised past Kidambi Srikanth 21-14, 21-18. "Today I am really happy with my performance and to reach my first world semi-final," he said. "I will now prepare really hard for my match against Lin Dan."
In the bottom half, China's defending champion and Olympic gold medalist, Chen Long, will meet the last European hope, Denmark's Viktor Axelsen. Axelsen needed three games to overcome Chou Tien Chen 21-18, 20-22, 21-16, but Chen beat compatriot Tian Houwei much more easily, 21-12, 21-17.
