Chinese great Lin Dan withdraws from World Superseries Finals

Five-time world champion has withdrawn from the Dubai event due to injury.

Kuala Lumpur: Five-time world badminton champion Lin Dan of China has withdrawn from the Dubai World Superseries Finals to be held from Wednesday due to injury, it was announced on Sunday.

"In his place, China has accepted the invitation for Tian Houwei to compete in men’s singles in the season-ending tournament which starts at the Hamdan Sports Complex in Dubai," the Badminton World Federation (BWF) said in a statement.

Meanwhile, the only other change to the original list of qualifiers is in women’s doubles, with Japanese pair of Reika Kakiiwa and Miyuki Maeda having also withdrawn due to injury.

Their place has been taken by their teammates, Naoko Fukuman and Kurumi Yonao, who finished No.8 in the rankings but who did not initially qualify, as per the regulations, as two Japanese pairs were ahead of them in the rankings.