Top seed Lin Dan takes on 12th seed Anthony Ginting in the Men's singles semi-final of 2017 Swiss Open Grand Prix Gold in Basel on Saturday.
The two-time champion decimated Indonesian youngster Ihsan Maulana Mustofa 21-17, 21-14 in his quarter-final outing yesterday while Ginting outclassed world number 39 Emil Holst, who had beaten Lin in the quarter-final of German Open earlier this year, in an hour-long battle 17-21, 21-15, 21-13.
Lin has not had a good stint on comeback from his post Rio Games break as he has stumbled in the final stages of the tournaments he has featured in so far. At German Open, which was his first appearance after the Olympics last year, the world number seven was ousted in the quarter-final after which he lost the All England Championships semi-final to compatriot Shi Yuqi, much to the disappointment of badminton fans who were waiting for yet another Lin-Lee Chong Wei title match.
The 33-year-old though has had an easy passage to the semi-final in Switzerland with straight games wins over his opponents so far. Lin has been title-less for almost an year now and the aging Chinese legend will want to end the drought before he gets back to Superseries action in Malaysia next month and also the World Championships in August.
While both the shuttlers have not met in the past, Lin starts as favourite today against the world number 30. Despite consistently reaching the semi-final stages of all the three Grand Prix Gold tournaments he has played so far in the ongoing season, it will be an uphill task for the Indonesian youngster today.
TV Schedule
Singapore: Hub Sports
Malaysia: Astro Supersport
India: Star Sports
