Beaten Lin Dan keen to play on; hints at going for a third Olympic gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Games
- The 2008 and 2012 Olympic champions is knocked out of the Hong Kong Open
- He is still hopeful of qualifying for the Guangzhou World Tour finals
China’s two-time Olympic champion Lin Dan has said he has no plans to retire as he hints of going for gold at the Tokyo 2020 Games.
The 35-year-old was beaten by Japan’s top seed and world champion Kento Momota in the first round of the Yonex-Sunrise Hong Kong Open on Wednesday but defeat against the favourite to win gold in Tokyo has not diminished his enthusiasm for the sport.
Lin, the 2008 and 2012 Olympic champion, said he would return to the circuit early next year for the start of the Tokyo 2020 qualifying campaign but it was too early to say if he would actually compete.
“There isn’t too many players at my age who can still continue to play on the tour and most importantly, I have no major injury,” said Lin after an hour-long match against Momota, who prevailed 21-19, 12-21, 21-15 in their first-round encounter.
Lin may be able to qualify for the World Tour finals in Guangzhou next month, but his early exit in Hong Kong may affect his chances because only the top eight players will be eligible.
The mainlander is seventh with the tour closing at the end of this month with the Korea Masters being his last qualifying event.