Top seed Lin Dan takes on fifth-seeded Taiwanese shuttler Hsu Jen Hao in the Men's singles quarter-final of 2017 China Masters on Friday.
The defending champion eased past 19-year-old compatriot Zhou Zeqi in straight games 21-14, 21-14 yesterday and has not been troubled so far in the ongoing tournament. Hsu, the world number 37, on the other hand, decimated 17-year-old Chinese shuttler Gu Junfeng in his R16 match.
Lin has all but sealed a spot in the group stages of BWF World Championships, which is slated to be held in Glasgow from 21 August. The two-time Olympic gold medallist was racing against time to make the cut to the biennial tournament after having missed the second part of last year following his medal-less run at Rio Games.
However, with a title at Malaysia Superseries Premier earlier this month and a run to the quarter-final in the ongoing tournament has given Lin, who is currently at 10th spot in Race to Glasgow Rankings, enough points to qualify.
Lin, who is expected to play without pressure now, will be determined to defend his title and standing in his way in the last-eight round is Hsu, whom he has beaten twice in the past (2011 China Masters and 2014 China Superseries Premier).
Hsu will face an uphill task against the in-form Chinese legend and his recent form is also a cause of concern as his run in the ongoing tournament is the first time he has progressed past the second round in seven tournament appearances this season.
