Lin Dan sails into top eight at National Games

Badminton superstar Lin Dan moved effortlessly through to the top eight of the 12th National Games in China's Liaoning province on Sunday.

The reigning world champion, representing the People's Liberation Army(PLA), trounced Tang Junxian of Guangdong province 21-8, 21-18, and although he was hardly challenged, the man regarded by many as the sport's best ever player showed flashes of classic play.

"I just want to tell badminton fans that this sport could make them very attractive," said Lin, who has expressed his willingness for numerous times to promote badminton worldwide.

Lin won the gold medals in 2005 and 2009 editions of the National Games. This year he is still hot favorite as he returned in style at the Guangzhou world championships last month after a year on the sidelines, taking the title again after his arch rival Lee Chong Wei was stretchered off the court in the third set of the final.

Lin stays on course to meet Chen Long from Fujian Province if both make it to the final after being placed in opposite halves of the draw, as the world No. 2 also advanced after a one-sided 21-11, 21-12 win over Guo Kai of Zhejiang Province in the second round.

At the National Games, billed as China's mini-Olympics, Lin led the PLA team to claim their first-ever men's team bronze on Friday. If he wins the men's singles title, he will set up another new record by becoming the first player to claim the title for the third consecutive time.

In women's singles, Olympic champion Li Xuerui, former world champion Wang Yihan and Asian Games gold medalist Wang Shixian all claimed easy victories to enter the quarter-finals.

In the badminton event, almost all of Chinese top players represent their respective home province or municipality in the country's premier sporting event.