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©INPHO/Cathal Noonan
London 2012

London 2012: Evans drawn against world's top player

The Dubliner has been drawn against world number one and Olympic champion Lin Dan of China.

SCOTT EVANS WILL have to do it the hard way in London after he was handed the toughest possible opening match in the Olympic men’s badminton singles.

The seven-time Irish national champion was pitted against world number one and defending Olympic gold medallist Lin Dan of China, 28, in the draw made in London’s Olympic Park this morning.

As the tournament’s second seed behind Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia, Dan was automatically drawn into Group P where he is joined by 24-year-old Evans.

Only one of the two can progress to the last 16 as group winners, leaving the Dubliner in need of a massive scalp if he is to avoid a repeat of his first-round exit in Beijing four years ago.

In the draw for the women’s singles, Donegal’s Chloe Magee finds herself with a comparatively easier path to the knockout rounds.

The 24-year-old, who is currently ranked 44th in the world, was drawn alongside 16th seed Pi Hongyan of France and world number 113 Hadia Hosny of Egypt.

The Olympic badminton tournament begins this Saturday, 28 July, at the Wembley Arena.

In pictures: The rocky road to London for Ireland’s Olympic hopefuls