LONDON, Aug. 10 -- The reigning world champion Chen Jin has never thought about defending his title at the Badminton World Championships. The Chinese shuttler said that he fought for every match and pulled out all the stops every time.
Chen, 25, played the men's singles second round match at Wembley Arena on Wednesday and reached the last 16 after beating Dicky Palyama from the Netherlands 21-13, 21-17.
"I have played with him several times and I knew the match would be tough," said Chen who once fell behind in both games but managed to come back. "I have never lost to him but no victory came easily."
Chen grabbed his maiden world title in Paris last year but felt no more pressure as the defending champion. "Because I have never thought about defending the title here. I just fight for every match and pull out all the stops every time."
The world No. 6 will scramble for a quarterfinal berth with Indian player Ajay Jayaram.