OLYMPICS /
Team China
Badminton couple enjoys identical wins
By Cui Xiaohuo
Chinadaily.com.cn Staff Writer
Updated: 2008-08-11 22:55
The magic of love shined at the Beijing Olympic badminton tonight, as the China's World No 1 singles couple "Super Dan" Lin Dan and girlfriend Xie Xingfang won almost identical matches in their tournaments.
The magic began when the top-seeded couple's matches, Lin's debut against Ng Wei from China's Hong Kong and Xie's second round against Olga Konon from Belarus, both started minutes after 7 p.m. The couple both took early leads and quickly finished their first games, and the scores were both at 21-16.
In the second game, Lin got a little behind Xie, on a court next to him, and caught up the pace to take the lead.
Combo photo showsbadmintonworld No 1 singles players Xie Xingfang (L) and her boyfriend "Super Dan" Lin Dan. [Agencies]
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The couple reached match points at the same time and wrapped up the match just two seconds apart. The crowds cheered for Lin's victory, but quickly launched another wave of cheer joy when Xie's win was announced.
It seemed everybody enjoyed this magic moment on the court, however, the World No 1 man said he was too focused to notice his girlfriend, who practically played meters away from him.
"No! No! I didn't know about her game," Lin waved away the question from reporters in the mixed zone.
"Oh, it was not us who drew up the schedule! Ask the technical staff," said Xie, laughing.
Even their answers were identical.
The day also saw heavy fall of several hot prospects. Following the elimination of top-seeded women's doubles Yang Wei/Zhang Jiewen of China earlier in the morning, Indonesia's Taufik Hidayat, who barely recovered from the Dengue Fever, got knocked in his Beijing Olympic debut by Malaysia's Wong Choong Hann in straight games. Denmark's Tine Rasmussen was defeated by Maria Kristin Yulianti from Indonesia in the women's singles round of 32.
