Chen Long hopeful for second world crown in Jakarta

World number one Chen Long said Sunday he hopes to clinch a second straight badminton world crown in Indonesia next week, but women's defending champion Carolina Marin is less confident after returning from injury just a fortnight ago.

Chen, 26, is in superb form having swept four titles this year and enters the Jakarta tournament a convincing top seed, with Danish star Jan O Jorgensen a distant second.

The Chinese shuttler has been laying solid groundwork for another gold medal since defeating Malaysia's Lee Chong Wei in Copenhagen last year to snag his first world title.

"It just gave me really a lot of confidence," Chen, speaking via a translator, told reporters in Jakarta.

"I really hope to get my second singles world championship this year."

He won't cross top rivals Lee or fellow countryman Lin Dan in the early stages -– they are in different halves of the draw -– and is expected to cruise to the quarter-finals without incident.

But things have not gone as smoothly for women's world number one Marin, who nearly missed badminton's most prestigious event after suffering a foot injury a month ago.

The Spaniard, who has won three titles already this season, said she felt "better than before" since returning to the court two weeks ago but was taking it one step at a time.

"I don't want to think about defending the title from last year," she said.

"I just want to enjoy the competition and do my best."

Marin last played in Jakarta in June, when she was knocked out of the Indonesian Open in the first round, complaining of fatigue and injury.
Source: AFP