Lee Chong-Wei and Lin Dan to play doubles together in exhibition game

Lee Chong Wei (L) and Lin Dan will be playing doubles together in an exhibition game this coming Sunday in China

One of the most defining rivalries for badminton as a sport has been the one between the current World No.1, Malaysian Lee Chong Wei, and Chinese double Olympic champion Lin Dan. The duo has raised the popularity of the game across the world and has had the audiences glued to their television sets every time they’ve stood across the court against each other.

So how exactly would it feel to watch two of the greatest players ever playing on the same side of the net as a doubles team? We’re about to find out this Sunday.

Chong Wei and Lin Dan will play alongside each other in an exhibition match on Feb 16 in Lingshui, China, to promote the opening of a new national training centre in the province.

And to make the contest even more riveting, the pair will take on five-time world champions Cai Yun-Fu Haifeng of China.

The event will also be Lin’s first appearance in front of his adoring home fans since he clinched the title at the World Championships in Guangzhou last August by beating Chong Wei.

Speaking of the event, the 31-year old Chong Wei said : “I received an invitation from China’s chief coach Li Yongbo to take part in this exhibition match. I was surprised that he wanted me to play with Lin Dan in the doubles …. I have not played doubles before but this is a good idea to promote the game and will be good for the sport.”

“Initially, Lin Dan and I were to take on Cai Yun and Chen Long but unfortunately, Chen Long could not make it. Now, we will be facing Cai Yun-Haifeng (the four-time world champions).”

“There are three Chinese players and one Malaysian in this exhibition match and it is an honour. I will do whatever I can to promote the sport wherever possible.”

“Maybe, the experience of playing in an exhibition match like this will get me excited and I may reconsider any plan I have of retiring from the sport,” he said with a smile.

When asked about Lin Dan’s return to badminton and the prospect of squaring up against his arch-rival at the World Championships in Copenhagen in August, Lee said : “I heard that he is coming back in March. I think it is good for the sport. I will be ready for him. I will train harder and prepare better to face him. Lin Dan is a great and strong player.”

Lin Dan, currently ranked No.104 in the world, could make a return at the Swiss Open Grand Prix Gold from March 11-16 and even at the Malaysian Open Grand Prix Gold in Johor Baru from March 25-30.

Lin may also take part in the two Superseries events in India and Singapore in a bid to gather enough ranking points to boost his world ranking before the qualifying period for the World Championships ends in May.