Ageing legends defy odds at All-England Open

Lee Chong Wei and Lin Dan have been tenaciously fighting amidst a surge of young talent.

Lee Chong Wei has been battling a knee injury in the All England Open. In the quarterfinal, he will face Tian Houwei.

Ageing badminton legends Lee Chong Wei and Lin Dan have been tenaciously defying the odds on their way to the last eight at the All-England Open. The post-Olympics months have brought a surge of young talent who are threatening to paint the courts at the first World Super Series tournament of the year with new patterns and styles.

But China's Lin, the 33-year-old three-times Olympic champion, and Malaysia's Lee, 34, the three-times All-England champion, did enough to reach the quarterfinals with hopes of defying the years once more. Lee, who delivered a revenge win over Brice Leverdez of France and a beautifully controlled performance against Wang Yzu Wei of Chinese Taipei, has survived despite a lingering knee injury.

“It's been good so far, but I have to put it out of my mind. I compete by paying attention to my condition,” said Lee, who will bid for a semifinal berth against Tian Houwei, the seventh-seeded Chinese player and a surprise finalist last year. “I'm just glad to be back at one of the most prestigious Super Series tournaments,” said Lin before his quarterfinal clash with Denmark's Viktor Axelsen.

Gunning for title

Lin has appeared keen to finish what may well be his final All-England by winning a seventh title at the 117-year old event. But he was presented with by far the hardest quarterfinal task - against the imposing and ambitious 23-year-old Dane, who has been in the form of his life.

Axelsen's capture of the World Super Series title in Dubai in December and the Olympic bronze in Rio has made him feel he can achieve great things here too.

But youth will almost certainly have its day in the women's singles. Six of the quarterfinalists, including the top-seeded Tai Tzu Ying and the Olympic champion Carolina Marin, are aged 23 or younger, and all have improved as they adapted to the cool, slightly drifty conditions.

The most notable success by far was that of Marin, who has not won a Super Series title since before the Olympics, and whose second-round recovery from a game and 17-19 down against He Bingjiao, the teenaged Chinese hope, revealed how badly she wants to win the All-England title again. Like Lee, she too has been troubled by injury. And no one has displayed more desire to win the title than these two. But Marin is the only one bold enough to say she will win it.