Lin Dan, Lee Chong Wei set up semifinal clash

Lin Dan returns a shot by South Korea's Lee Dongkeun (not pictured) during the men's singles badminton match in the Gyeyang Gymnasium at the 17th Asian Games in Incheon, Sept 25, 2014. [Photo/Agencies]

Malaysia's Lee Chong Wei sweats as he waits to return a serve against Vietnam during the men's singles quarter final badminton match at Gyeyang Gymnasium, at the 17th Asian Games in Incheon, Sept 27, 2014. [Photo/Agencies]

INCHEON, South Korea - Chinese superstar Lin Dan and world number one Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia set up a mouth-watering semifinal clash in the Asiad badminton tournament, after they both defeated their respective opponents here on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Li Xuerui and Wang Yihan's win in the semifinals the same day helped China lock in the women's singles gold once again.

Multi Olympic and world champion Lin Dan breezed past Tago Kenichi of Japan 2-0 (21-14, 21-18) in the men's singles quarterfinals on Saturday afternoon.

The No.4-ranked Japanese shuttler was unable to make Lin sweat in the first set but did mount a challenge in the second with fierce smashes. The experienced Lin, however, managed to keep things under control and beat his opponent eventually.

Earlier, Lee Chong Wei survived an early shock to defeat Vietnamese Nguyen Tien Minh 2-1 and book his place in the semifinals.

Nguyen won the first game 23-21 with fierce smashes before Lee outwitted him with drop shots and long rallies to take the following two sets 21-16, 21-17.

Speaking about the upcoming clash with Lee on Sunday, Lin said,

"I have won many games in the past, so I can afford to lose. I will go all out to play in tomorrow's match."

Lin and Lee have met 31 times, with Lin winning 22.

In another men's singles quarterfinals, Chen Long, ranked the second, got a revenge on South Korea's Son Wanho, who had defeated him in the men's team final, by dumping out Son 21-16, 21-19.

Top-seeded Li Xuerei and second-ranked Wan Yihan both had some bitter time in battling past their respective opponents.

Li got past Tai Tzu Ying of Chinese Taipei 21-16, 24-26, 21-8, while Wang beat Bae Yeonju of South Korea 21-10, 12-21,21-16.

"It is great that we have locked in the gold. I lost the world champions title, so I want to grab one at these Games," said Olympic champion Li, who was upset by unheralded Carolina Marin of Spain in the women's singles final at the BWF World Champions 2014.

She added she will go to great lengths in the meeting with Wang in Sunday's final.

Polii Greysia/Maheswari Nitya Krishinda of Indonesia eased past Japanese pair Takahashi Ayaka/Matsutomo Misaki 21-15, 21-9 on Saturday night to take the women's doubles gold medal.

In the mixed doubles quarterfinals earlier, Chinese Zhang Nan/Zhao Yunlei defeated Chen Hung Ling/Cheng Wen Hsing of Chinese Taipei 21-17, 21-15, while Xu Chen/Ma Jin beat Chrisnanta Danny Bawa/Neo Yu Yan Vanessa of Singapore 21-12, 21-15, to sail into the semifinals.

On Sunday, Korean pair Yoo Yeonseong and Lee Yongdae will meet Ahsan Mohammad and Setiawan Hendra of Indonesia in the men's doubles final.