Tue, Mar 26, 2024 page7

• Taiwan’s Lin edges Chou at Swiss Open

  BITTERSWEET: Although 24-year-old Lin topped Chou, 10 years his senior, for his third Super 300 title, it would not be enough to help him qualify for the Paris Olympics

  • Staff writer, with CNA
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  Taiwanese shuttler Lin Chun-yi on Sunday defeated compatriot and badminton ace Chou Tien-chen by the thinnest of margins in a 75-minute, three-game thriller to win the men’s singles title at the Yonex Swiss Open in Basel.

  World No. 22 Lin fought back from an overwhelming 21-7 loss in the first game to world No. 15 Chou, to save four match points and eke out a 22-20 victory in the second.

  “I really didn’t think about anything, including losing,” Lin said of being down 20-16 toward the end of the second game, adding that he was only focused on getting the shuttlecock back.

  

  Taiwanese shuttler Lin Chun-Yi returns to compatriot Chou Tien-chen during the men’s singles final at the Yonex Swiss Open in Basel on Sunday.

  Photo: AP

  At one point, he lost track of the score as he racked up six straight points to win the game, he said.

  The 24-year-old then survived a late comeback from former world No. 2 Chou, who at 10 years his senior saved three match points while Lin had a 20-17 lead. Chou saved another at 21-20, but Lin fought for two more points to seal the game 23-21.

  It was his second win against compatriot Chou in their four matches since they first faced off last year.

  

  Taiwanese badminton player Lin Chun-yi, right and Chou Tien-chen bag the Yonex Swiss Open men’s singles titles in Basel on Sunday.

  Photo: grab from 2024 Yonex Swiss Open Website

  Sunday’s victory gives Lin his third Super 300 title, after winning the US Open Badminton Championships in 2019 and the Thailand Masters last year.

  Lin said he has matured and gained a lot of experience over the past few years, which was evident in Switzerland.

  “The last two [Super 300] titles went relatively smoothly. This time was more challenging. There were mistakes and there were setbacks, but the player I am now had a better idea of what to do and when to do it,” he said.

  Asked whether he hoped to take over Chou’s mantle as Taiwan’s top male player, Lin said playing well was his focus.

  “Every athlete gets old. It’s a natural cycle, so this isn’t a goal of mine. I just want to compete against the world’s top players,” he said.

  “I just want to do things right and have the proper mindset. With those things, good results will follow,” he added.

  Even with Sunday’s win, Lin is unlikely to make it to the Olympic Games in Paris this summer, under qualifying rules.

  Countries must have two players ranked in the top 16 to get the maximum two spots in an Olympic badminton singles competition, but Chou is Taiwan’s only male player ranked in the top 16, meaning Taiwan would only get one spot in the men’s singles in Paris.
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