BADMINTON superstars Lin Dan and Lee Chong Wei sailed into the top eight in the men’s singles at the Rio Olympic Games on Sunday.

    Two-time men’s singles champion Lin of China barely broke a sweat brushing aside Vietnam’s Nguyen Tien Minh, 21-7 21-12, while his close rival Lee of Malaysia spent five minutes less in disposing of the challenge of Singapore’s Derek Wong, 21-18, 21-8.

    Lin and Lee won their groups with three consecutive wins and are on their way for a semifinals clash. Second seed Chen Long of China also topped the group with three wins after his final group opponent Kevin Cordon retired from the competition. As the top three seeds Lee, Chen and Lin enjoyed a bye in the round of 16, all of them entered the top eight directly.

    In women’s singles, defending champion Li Xuerui, and her Chinese compatriot Wang Yihan won their groups without trouble.

    Saina Nehwal, the Indian fifth seed, however was stunned by world No. 61 Ukrainian Maria Ulitina 21-18, 21-19. She blamed her right knee for her loss. With both players having beaten Brazil’s Lohaynny Vicente in Group G, Ulitina’s victory Sunday ensured her promotion, as group winner, into the knock-out stage.

    “My right knee was hurting and affected my movement,” said Nehwal. “I tried hard, but I wasn’t able to do my best. The knee started hurting just before the Olympics, during training, but it got aggravated here.”(Xinhua)