A first-round exit from the Fuzhou China Open dealt Lin Dan’s unlikely bid for a third Olympic gold another blow on Wednesday. The 36-year-old Lin was beaten by his compatriot Chen Long in three games after the former had won the first game 21-19.

However, it was the younger Chen, the 2016 Rio Olympics gold medallist, who came back to win the next two games 21-12, 21-12 to send a wilting Lin, arguably the greatest badminton player of all time, back home packing.

Lin, a five-time world champion and the 2008 and 2012 Olympic champion, has now lost eight times in the first round of tournaments this year.

Once the world number one, his ranking has fallen to 18th.

Chen and Shi Yuqi are third and fourth respectively and in pole position to represent China next summer in Tokyo, as long as they remain ahead of Lin at the April 2020 cut-off. Shi, the third seed, defeated South Korea’s Son Wan-Ho 21-17, 21-17.

Lin has always said that he wanted to end his career with another tilt at Games gold.

With that prospect looking increasingly remote, Chinese media have speculated that he could announce his retirement imminently.

On Tuesday, defending Fuzhou champion Kento Momota, the world number one from Japan, defeated Daren Liew when the Malaysian retired.

Meanwhile, ace Indian shuttler Saina Nehwal crashed out of the ongoing China Open after suffering a shock straight-games defeat to China’s Yan Yan Cai in her first round contest on Wednesday.

Eighth-seed Saina lost to World No. 22 Cai 9-21, 12-21 in just 24 minutes to bow out of the competition.

Meanwhile, her husband Parupalli Kashyap moved into the second round of the men’s singles event with a 21-14, 21-13 win over World No. 21 Thammasin Sitthikom.

This was the first win for Kashyap against the Thai player in their three meetings so far. He will next face World No. 6 Viktor Axelsen for a place in the quarterfinals.

With Saina’s defeat, India’s challenge in women’s singles event has come to an end at the $700,000 tournament.

On Tuesday, P.V. Sindhu too had suffered same fate as he too had crashed out in the first round after losing to World No. 42 Pai Yu Po of Chinese Taipei on Tuesday.

The World No. 6, who made early exits in China, Korea and Denmark, lost 13-21, 21-18, 19-21 to Pai in a match that lasted for 74 minutes.

Agencies