China's Lin Dan returns the shuttlecock against David Obernosterer of Austria during a men's singles group play stage match of badminton at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Aug. 11, 2016. Lin Dan won 2-0. (Xinhua/Meng Yongmin)
RIO DE JANEIRO, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- There were no surprises in the opening session of badminton in Rio 2016, as men's singles hotshots Lin Dan of China and Malaysia's Lee Chong Wei cruised through on Thursday.
Lin Dan breezed past David Obernosterer of Austria 21-5, 21-11 in 36 minutes in Group E, while Lee Chong Wei was barely stretched in his 21-2, 21-3 rout of Suriname's Soren Opti in Group A.
"So far so good," said Lin, two-time Olympic champion. "There are still some issues with the wind. I'm just happy to be here. There are a lot of good players in the draw, let's see how things go."
Lee had different feelings in his first game although he took an easy win, "The lights, lots of fans and the sound of cheer-up remind me that the Olympics is real."
"Everyone wants gold medal, I won't think too much about the final or the semifinal, because it's too early to talk about that," he added.
Both of Lin and Lee have competed in four Olympic Games so far, among which Lin got two singles gold medals at Beijing and London Games while Lee was twice beaten by Lin in the Olympics finals.
Malaysia's Lee Chong Wei competes against Soren Opti of Suriname during a men's singles group play stage match of badminton at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Aug. 11, 2016. Lee Chong Wei won 2-0. (Xinhua/Meng Yongmin)
