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Wikipedia tells me Lin Dan has a fetish for tattoos. So, as he wanders into the arena, aura alongside the racquet bag, I decide to spend a couple of minutes spotting some. He wears a sleeveless red shirt, conforming to the Chinese team dress code I am guessing -- though this man is no conformist. Wiki also tells me these tattoos have been the subject of controversy for their messaging but one glance at Lin and youd know, he isnt one to care. I believe Wiki.Kidambi Srikanth follows him out. He doesnt need to refer to Wikipedia to know everything there is to know about the man he is playing -- all the trophies, the world championships, the gold medals. For Srikanth this may as well be an out-of-body experience. He is standing across the net from his idol, chosen to derail his quest for a hat-trick of Olympic gold medals. He knows what beating him feels like already. The last time they clashed, in Lins backyard a little under two years ago, Srikanth crafted a memory to last a lifetime.This is not a day for sentiment though. A Super Series event comes along ever so often in the course of a year. An Olympics, once in four years. A Chinese journalist seated next to me says Lin isnt quite the player he used to be, but hey, he is Lin Dan.Srikanth takes the first point as their contest begins and then endures a wretched run for the next few minutes. 1-2. 1-5. 1-12. Shuttles are drifting out of court or crashing into the net. Lin is everywhere at the same time. Springing away, leaping over the shuttle to give it a spank. It would seem an autograph hunter has been mistaken for a rival but Lin is insistent on giving him a sound thrashing anyway.We began the competition with three courts in use at Pavilion Four in Riocentro, the venue for the badminton events. But now that the initial rounds have been completed, two courts have been dispensed with. So in a massive coliseum, the two combatants in its middle are the central figures in the drama. Crowds at the badminton have been excitable and generous towards the underdog. So as the first game is done and dusted in all of 16 minutes, with Srikanth claiming just six points, they work up the vocal chords.The Indians sit alongside a robust Chinese cheering crew. They raise their flags alternately and thus far, the Chinese have had the bragging rights. It is all good-humoured. Srikanth starts the second game with three consecutive points. Thats already half as many as he won in the entire first game. Downcast journalists, by now beyond frustrated at having reported the same medal-less narrative for nearly two weeks, arent convinced yet. 6-2. 9-5. 11-5.Hello.Lin Dan, jaiyoou, I hear a squeaky voice urge their man from the side of the court.I turn to the journalist next to me ask what that means. He tells me with a twinkly smile, Fuel the car, Lin Dan.We chuckle in unison. There is a vitality to this contest now. Srikanth is no longer the autograph hunter being pulverised by his idol. He is here to play and unleashes a tornado of shots. Lin is concoction of subtlety and anger. Racquet out front, eyes wide open, he caresses the shuttle, commanding it to float over the net and then bashes it with impunity at his next go. He is Boris Beckerian in his pyrotechnics, surging to his left and surging to his right, falling flat on the floor and rising again, but somehow the shuttle makes it over to the other side.But now, Srikanth is turbo-charged as well. The arena throbs. A ferocious exchange -- whoop-whoop-whoop -- as the shuttle hurtles between the two players ends with Srikanth claiming the point. He is 14-8 up. Even the sanguine Pullela Gopichand in his corner is animated. Fist pumps. Come-ons. Yesses.Jeetega bhai jeetega, India jeetega.Lin Dan, jaiyoouLess than half an hour ago you wouldnt have thought it, but this match is now even. One game apiece. The flag waving is being shared equally now. The banter is between equals. Heres one of the great ones of this game against a man from Guntur on a stage he has owned with impunity in the past. The boxing arena is a stones throw away from badminton but in this moment it would seem the pugilism has been relocated. Lin circles his side of the court at the end of a point, Srikanth takes gentle, assured steps.Gopichand whispers a message into Srikanths ears as they hustle back on to court. The decider is here and it is here that the ebb and flow of the contest rips into the hearts of those watching. Supporters bubbling with excitement are now intently aware that something very special is unfolding. Eyes dig in. A British journalist seated to my right has ignored the match so far, working perhaps on a tight deadline. She flips down her laptop and is watching now. My Chinese friend is giving me an appreciative nod every now and then now, lower lip puckered up in admiration.Srikanth is a torrent of energy now. One dimensional in his attacking methods in the past, Gopichand has inculcated a more nuanced dimension to his game. Lin is constructing a point. He pushes the Indian back, who spars without inhibition by whipping it right back. The shuttle is travelling the maximum distance it can without falling out of play and then suddenly the minimum. They are both poachers at the net, dabbing it with soft hands but a firm wrist. It is mind-numbingly precise play. The shuttle travels only as much as it needs to vertically, crosses the net to the other side and then succumbs to gravity.One must stand and watch now. 6-6. 7-7. 9-8. 11-8. Guess what, into our final mid-game break of this contest Kidambi Srikanth is leading Lin Dan. Somewhere in there they play a 40-shot rally, the longest of the match. My match notes now are an incomprehensible scribble. Sweaty palms and pens arent allies.13-10. Eight points away. 13-13. Damn. 14-13. Like grown men in a shipwreck fighting for the same life jacket, this is now a life-or-death contest. Punches are being thrown, eyes are being poked, all bets are off. Lin reclaims the lead. 15-14. 16-15. A shimmy of the wrist and an obedient racquet kills all momentum on the shuttle. It falls limply over, even a scrambling Srikanth is bemused at the audacity of that shot. This is why you are my idol, Super Dan, but lets get back to this now, shall we?17-16. 19-17. Every point is an occasion now. The Chinese coach recoils from his chair on the sidelines. What is with these Indians? That tall woman yesterday and now this 23-year-old man. Let it go will you.We have gone well past the one-hour mark. There is a finish line in sight. This isnt Bolt v Gatlin though, with a clear winner pulling away as it approaches. 19-17 and Lin is well aware he isnt finished yet. Srikanth leaps in search for a smash to Lins backhand. But perhaps he catches the shuttle a centimetre lower than he should have. Or perhaps the wrist cocked at a slightly acuter angle than he would have liked. In that moment, the arena gasps. The shuttle rattles into the net, shaking it violently, before falling over to Srikanths half of the court.20-17. Match point.I shouldnt have gone for a smash at 17-19, Srikanth would say later. At crucial stages I dont think experience really matters. That smash was the game-changer. Had I kept it simple it would have been 18-19.When it ends there is a victor on the scoreboard and a vanquished. But Lin, this tormentor of opponents and carrier of tattoos, knows he has been in a battle that has left him battered, bruised and utterly spent. The record books will reflect Kidambi Srikanth returned from the 2016 Olympic games in Rio having reached the quarterfinal. But for those of us who were there, Lin Dan included, it will resonate as an hour and a bit of stupendous gallantry.We just wanted to be aggressive and not commit simple mistakes, Srikanth tells us later. Overall there wasnt any special strategy, but to just stay in the rally.You stayed in them good, young man.Shoes From China Wholesale . The Vancouver coach and an announced sellout crowd of 18,910 watched in dismay as the Canucks lost 7-4 to the New York Islanders on Monday night by squandering a 3-0 lead in the third period. Best Cheap Fake Shoes . Their 38th instalment is arguably their biggest fight card to date, including three-title fights and a main event which was selected by the fans. 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Wholesale Shoes China Free Shipping .Y. -- Sabres defenceman Tyler Myers had no intention of changing his hard-hitting style before taking part in a disciplinary hearing for his illegal check to New Jersey forward Dainius Zubrus head.ARLINGTON, Texas -- Mitch Moreland and Lucas Harrell helped the Texas Rangers get another big win as they pull away again in the American League West.Moreland homered for the fifth time in his last five starts and Harrell won in his Texas debut as the Rangers beat the Kansas City Royals 5-3 to finish a sweep of the four-game series.After having their 10-game division lead shrink to 2 1/2 games last Wednesday, the Rangers have pushed the advantage back up to six games.Harrell (3-2) gave up three runs and four hits -- including solo home runs to Eric Hosmer and Drew Butera -- in six innings. The 31-year-old right-hander was acquired from Atlanta last Wednesday to help the Rangers injury-riddled starting rotation. Sam Dyson earned his 22nd save.More than anything else, what we saw this weekend is when we get quality starts . we have an opportunity to utilize our bullpen the way we need to, Texas manager Jeff Banister said.The Rangers received quality starts in three of the four series games. They received quality starts in only three of their previous 21 games in July.Harrell was the eighth Rangers pitcher to make a start in July. Colby Lewis and Derek Holland missed the entire month on the disabled list, and Yu Darvish returned from the DL on July 16.This teams already on a roll, Harrell said. My job is to come in and get people out and keep us in the game.Kansas City hit just 2 for 25 with runners in scoring position during the series. The defending World Series champions went 7-19 in July, their worst month since recording the same record in July 2012.We take probably the last couple of weeks and try to forget that, Eric Hosmer said. Times are just rough.Morelands two-run homer was his 18th this season, the last five coming within 16 at-bats. Nomar Mazara also homered against the Royals, who have allowed an AL-high 141 homers this season.Since Prince Fielder was lost for the balance of the season to another neck injury, Moreland has hit .366 with six homers. In the series, Moreland hit .615 with four homers.Im trying to go up there and have good at-bats, Moreland said. It definitelyy worked out well for me this series.dddddddddddd.Dillon Gee (3-5) gave up four runs and seven hits over six innings in his longest and most effective start of the season. He had a 6.43 ERA in six previous starts.GALLO SITSBanister sat young power-hitter Joey Gallo, a left-handed hitter, against the right-handed Gee. Gallo is 1-for-14 with nine strikeouts since being recalled from Triple-A Round Rock last week.This guy has minor league power pedigree that were willing to be patient with, Banister said.Were still winning, and thats the best part about it, Gallo said. It just takes time.SHORT HOPSThe temperature was 96 degrees at first pitch and reached 99. ... Gee played collegiately at Texas-Arlington and makes his off-season home in nearby Fort Worth. ... Banister also sat CF Ian Desmond and SS Elvis Andrus ahead of Mondays travel day. . Adrian Beltre got his 2,873rd career hit, tying him with Babe Ruth for 43rd place all time.TRAINERS ROOMKansas City placed closer Wade Davis on the DL (flexor strain). LHP Matt Strahm was brought up from Double-A Northwest Arkansas and made his major league debut. He faced three batters and allowed one earned run. ... Rangers RF Shin-Soo Choo (back) did rehab work Sunday for the second straight day and reported no discomfort. He hopes to be ready when eligible for re-activation on Thursday.UP NEXTRoyals: LHP Danny Duffy (6-1) will start the series opener at Tampa Bay on Monday. Duffy has five wins and four no-decisions in his last nine starts, most recently losing on June 6.Rangers: RHP Yu Darvish (2-2) will make his seventh start since starting his season in late May following Tommy John surgery when the Rangers open a series at Baltimore on Tuesday. Both losses have come since returning from the disabled list on July 16 following shoulder discomfort. He could reach 100 pitches for the first time this season.---This story has been corrected to show the Royals were 2 for 25 with runners in scoring position in the series. ' ' '