Lin Dan, Chong Wei’s bad penny

Shuttle’s two legends and eternal rivals are cordial alright and they even jammed on same side of the net.

There’s nothing disreputable or prodigal, nor counterfeit about Lin Dan. But view him from Lee Chong Wei’s perspective, and the Malaysian might wonder if the proverbial ‘bad penny has turned up’ — to his absolute annoyance, yet again.

Shuttle’s two legends and eternal rivals are cordial alright and in February they even jammed on the same side of the net teaming up in an exhibition doubles match at a China International Challenge losing 21-18, 21-19 against Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng. But an ageing Chong Wei wouldn’t mind seeing the back of Super Dan (his junior by a year), especially when the Chinese two-time Olympics champ routinely disappears from the circuit after pocketing the various Games gold medals, only to resurface when the next big podium is at stake.

So, after London till this April, Dan hadn’t left the Chinese mainland to compete — only a hop into Taipei for the Asian Championship last year and won a World title at home and a low-key Grand Prix Gold event without breaking a sweat, apart from that doubles toss-about with Chong Wei in a frolicky atmosphere around Valetines Day.

And he was in warm-up mode for the biggies this season — Thomas Cup, Worlds and the Asian Games — when he swatted around lesser opponents at the Asian Championship winning the final this Sunday in Korea, showing no intent of him going away. He thumped four of his five opponents with a single-digit set-score win, and even if Japanese Sho Sasaki grabbed the opener in the one-hour long final, it was the classical Lin Dan tease (rapid switch of gears, flurry of points) at play.

His disregard for rankings is perhaps most stunning, bordering on stylish. Ranked 38 around same time last year as he coolled his heels back home after the Olympic triumph, Dan allowed the number to dip to No 288 in the world, by August. Andre Agassi’s trough of No 141 is well-documented; his Herculean upclimb back to the pinnacle even more gloried. No such titanic narrative for Lin Dan, who jumped 21 places last week to No 83 and will be leaping back into the ranking orbit that matters soon enough.

The last time he’d been hibernating after winning gold at the Beijing Games, a massive ruckus had ensued from Malaysia when China demanded a wild-card for him at the following Worlds — which he went on to win beating his favourite opponent. The head-to-head’s poised at 22-9 in favour of the Chinese and speculation about when both shuttlers will retire has begun. But even Chong Wei will admit this time around that winning a title from a draw where Lin Dan’s absent, is practically no fun.

(Shivani is a senior assistant editor based in Mumbai) shivani.naik@expressindia.com

Shivani Naik

Shivani Naik is a senior sports journalist and Assistant Editor at The Indian Express. She is widely considered one of the leading voices in Indian Olympic sports journalism, particularly known for her deep expertise in badminton, wrestling, and basketball. Professional Profile Role: Assistant Editor and Columnist at The Indian Express. Specialization: While she covers a variety of sports, she is the primary authority on badminton for the publication. She also writes extensively about tennis, track and field, wrestling, and gymnastics. Writing Style: Her work is characterized by "technical storytelling"—breaking down the biomechanics, tactics, and psychological grit of athletes. She often provides "long reads" that explore the personal journeys of athletes beyond the podium. Key Topics & Recent Coverage (Late 2025) Shivani Naik’s recent articles (as of December 2025) focus on the evolving landscape of Indian sports as athletes prepare for the 2026 Asian Games and beyond: Indian Badminton's "Hulks": She has recently written about a new generation of Indian shuttlers characterized by power and physicality, such as Ayush Shetty and Sathish Karunakaran, marking a shift from the traditionally finesse-based Indian style. PV Sindhu’s Resurgence: A significant portion of her late-2025 work tracks PV Sindhu’s tactical shifts under new coaching, focusing on her "sparkle" and technical tweaks to break out of career slumps. The "Group of Death": In December 2025, she provided detailed tactical previews for Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty’s campaign in the BWF World Tour Finals. Tactical Deep Dives: She frequently explores technical trends, such as the rise of "backhand deception" in modern badminton and the importance of court drift management in international arenas. Legacy and History: She often revisits the careers of legends like Saina Nehwal and Syed Modi, providing historical context to current Indian successes. Notable Recent Articles BWF World Tour Finals: Satwik-Chirag have it all to do to get through proverbial Group of Death. (Dec 2025) The age of Hulks in Indian badminton is here. (Dec 2025) Treadmill, Yoganidra and building endurance: The themes that defined the resurgence of Gayatri and Treesa. (Dec 2025) Ayush Shetty beats Kodai Naraoka: Will 20-year-old be the headline act in 2026? (Nov 2025) Modern Cinderella tale – featuring An Se-young and a shoe that fits snugly. (Nov 2025) Other Sports Interests Beyond the court, Shivani is a passionate follower of South African cricket, sometimes writing emotional columns about her irrational support for the Proteas, which started because of love for Graeme Smith's dour and doughty Test playing style despite being a left-hander, and sustained over curiosity over their heartbreaking habit of losing ICC knockouts. You can follow her detailed analysis and columns on her official Indian Express profile page. ... Read More