August 08, 2008	Friday	Sha’aban 5, 1429

BEIJING, Aug 7: China’s Lin Dan and his comrades launch their bid for a clean sweep of the Olympic gold medals in badminton on Saturday, with arch rivals Malaysia, Indonesia and South Korea determined to halt the charge.

Lin, 24, the world champion, whose volatile temper sometimes threatens to overshadow his badminton brilliance, is gunning for gold in the men’s singles after being knocked out in Athens in the first round.

With thousands of Chinese fans set to pack out the Beijing University of Technology gymnasium for the hugely popular tournament, Lin and the rest of the Chinese team are under pressure to perform.

But the top seed, known as Super Dan, says he is keeping his eye firmly on the main prize — and was hoping for gold not only for himself but also his girlfriend, the world’s No 1 women’s shuttler Xie Xingfang.

“Pressure can be both positive or detrimental to my game. Olympic gold is the goal that I am pursuing in Beijing,” he said this week.

Lin’s biggest challenger is expected to be Lee Chong Wei who has the hopes of a nation resting on his shoulders as he aims to win Malaysia’s first Olympic gold medal in any sport.

On the road to the final, Lee must overcome China’s number two Bao Chunlai while Lin faces China’s fourth seed Chen Jin, the All England champion.

Olympic champion Taufik Hidayat from Indonesia has warned against writing him off for gold despite being hospitalised with dengue fever in Jakarta just two weeks out from the Games.

“I still have a chance to be champion but we’ll see,” said Hidayat, seeded seven for the singles tournament.

China say they are aiming for at least three golds at these Games, matching their tally in Athens, but a clean sweep of four is within their sights.

The Red Army dominates on the women’s side with Xie Xingfang, a two-time world champion, backed up by second seed and defending Olympic champion Zhang Ning as well as third seed, 21-year-old rising star Lu Lan.

Hong Kong’s Wang Chen is expected to challenge hard, the 32-year-old veteran determined to derail the Chinese juggernaut at her last Olympics after reaching the quarter-finals in Athens.

All eyes will also be on Denmark’s sensation Tine Rasmussen, after the sixth seed slayed China’s giants this year on her way to winning three titles including the All England championship.

China face their biggest roadblocks in the men’s and mixed doubles where Indonesia have taken the top seedings.

But China are set for an easy run in the women’s doubles, dominating the top three spots.—AFP