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China bag women's doubles title, Lin Dan eases on

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Tian Qing/Zhao Yunlei beat teammate Wang Xiaoli/Yu Yang to grab the women's doubles badminton title for China at the Asian Games here on Friday.

Tian and Zhao lifted China's sixth women's doubles title after the surprise win. They were teamed up just before the doubles competition after Zhao's long time partner Cheng Shu withdrew due to injury.

Olympic and three-time world champion Lin Dan looked unstoppable when the title favorite beat Vietnamese Nguyen Tien Minh 21-9, 21-16, to set up a semifinal clash with Park Sunghwan of South Korea who beat Taufik Hidayat from Indonesia 21-15, 21-16.

"I didn't watch Park's match against Taufik but I expect a very tough match. Hopefully I can be at my best tomorrow," said Lin, 27.

Taufik lost the chance to defend his title. For the father of two, however, badminton has become a game for him now.

"This is a game. Some win and some lose and today I lost," said the 29-year-old who has a three-year-old daughter and just welcomed a baby boy.

Whereas for Park, beating Taufik is definitely something in his career.

"This is the first time I beat Taufik, which greatly increase my confidence. And it was a wonderful match for me," he said.

World top player Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia advanced with a 21-13, 21-17 victory over Boonsak Ponsana of Thailand to set up a meeting with world champion Chen Jin who outpowered Chou Tien Chen of Chinese Taipei 21-19, 21-14.

"I didn't feel comfortable last time I lost to Ponsana. This time I worked out a more aggressive strategy and he didn't seem to be well prepared for my constant attacks," said Lee, who lost to Ponsana, Thailand, 21-13, 21-17.

Beijing Olympic champions Markis Kido/Hendra Setiawan of Indonesia moved one step closer to the Asian Games men's doubles glory after they squeezed past South Korean Chung Jaesung/Lee Yongdae 21-15, 13-21, 21-18.

"Our opponents were extremely good close to the net. Defending their aggressive shots made me very fatigued," said Beijing Olympics mixed doubles champion Lee, who gave up his specialist event to focus on the men's doubles.

"It's disappointing. I think the main reason for our loss today was because we didn't prepare properly before the match," he said.

Defending champions Koo Kien Keat/Tan Boonj Heong of Malaysia outplayed Mohammad Ahsan/Alvent Yulianto Chandra, Indonesia, 21-19, 21-16 in the other semifinal.

In the mixed doubles, Chen Hung Ling/Cheng Wen Hsing of Chinese Taipei overcame top seeded Sudket Prapakamol/S. Thoungthongkam from Thailand 21-19, 21-8 to meet Zhang Nan/Zhao Yunlei in the semifinals after the Chinese pair edged Ko Sunghyun/Ha Jungeun of South Korea 21-14, 15-21, 21-14.

Shin Baekcheol/Lee Hyojung kept the mixed doubles hope alive for South Korea when they beat S. Anugritayawon/K. Voravichitchaikul of Thailand 21-16, 21-17 to face Chinese Ma Jin/He Hanbin who eliminated Lee Sheng Mu/Chien Yu Chin of Chinese Taipei, 21-17, 21-15.