Beijing: World No. 1 Chen Long and World No. 3 Lin Dan will prepare for the Rio de Janeiro Olympics by playing at the Australian Badminton Open in June.
Both defending champion Chen Long and the 2014 winner Lin Dan are facing stiff challenges taking on best shuttlers from countries such as Malaysia, Denmark, Indonesia and India. Last year’s runner-up and the reigning European Champion will have his chances to strike back and to prove the world he is a formidable challengers in sight to dethrone Asian shuttlers’ reign in badminton.
The 2012 London Olympic women’s singles champion Li Xuerui and reigning world champion mixed doubles pair Zhao Yunlei/Zhang Nan of China are also joining their teammates in Sydney.
“For those who are not able to get to the Olympics, Australian Open is basically the Olympics,” tournament director Wong Loke Poh told reporters in Sydney on Tuesday.
“All the best players are coming to Sydney, and it is the last event before the Olympics,” added Wong.
The Australian Badminton Open will be held in Sydney from June 7 to June 12, and offers total prize money of USD $750,000.