Two-time Olympics men's singles gold medal winner Lin Dan of China fought off a strong challenge in the first set before prevailing 21-18, 21-7 against Russia's Vladimir Malkov in his second match in Group E in the Rio Olympics badminton competition on Friday.
In his first match in the group on Thursday, the Chinese ace defeated Austria's David Obernosterer 21-15, 21-11 but he faced a much tougher opponent in Malkov and needed 42 minutes for his win over the Russian.
Lin Dan will now face Vietnam veteran Nguyen Tien Minh in his final group match on Sunday to decide the group champion.
Meanwhile, Singapore's Derek Wong will face Malaysia's Lee Chong Wei to decide who tops Group A. The Singaporean, as expected had no difficulty against Suriname's Soren Opti in Friday's match and came off easy 21-15, 21-16 winner in only 22 minutes.
The Singaporean has never beaten Chong Wei in his previous meetings. Chong Wei is the current world number one and the top seed in the men's singles in the Rio Olympics. He is Malaysia's best hope to win the men's singles title.
Indonesia's hope in the men's singles Tommy Sugiarto also opened his Group J campaign on a winning note with a 21-14, 21-10 win over United State's Howard Shu in a 36 minute match.
Meanwhile, Asian shuttlers were also in winning form in the women's singles on the second day of the badminton competition at the Riocentro Pavilion 4.
Reigning All England champion Nozomi Okuhara, seeded sixth, of Japan got off to a winning start in her campaign in Rio with a 21-10, 21-8 win over Vietnam's Vu Thi Trang in her opening match in Group J.
Seventh seed Sung Ji-hyun of Korea was a 21-13, 21-14 winner in 41 minutes over Delphine Lansac of France in her Group C match while 10th seed Akane Yamaguchi of Japan defeated Czech Republic's Kristina Gavnholt in a come-from-behind 20-22, 21-12, 21-15 win in 57 minutes.
However, Hong Kong's Yip Pui Yin was a surprise casualty in her Group L match against Kati Tolmoff of Estonia. Tolmoff staged a remarkable comeback after losing the first set tamely 5-21 to win the next two sets 21-13, 21-18 in 45 minutes.
SELECTED RESULTS (Aug 12)
Men's singles
Group A
Derek Wong (Sin) beat Soren Opti (Sur) 21-5, 21-6
Group E
Lin Dan (Chn) beat Vladimir Malkov (Rus) 21-18, 21-7
Group G
Jan O Jorgensen (Den) beat Raul Must (Est) 21-8, 21-15
Group J
Tommy Sugiarto (Ina) beat Howard Shu (US) 21-14, 21-10
Women's singles
Group C
Sung Ji-hyun (Kor) beat Delphine Lansac (Fra) 21-13, 21-14
Group J
> Nozomi Okuhara (Jpn) Vu Thi Trang (Vie) 21-10, 21-8
Group K
Akane Yamaguchi (Jpn) beat Kristina Gavnholt (Cze) 20-22, 21-12, 21-15
Group L
Kati Tolmoff (Est) beat Yip Pui Yin (Hkg) 5-21, 21-13, 21-18
