LONDON, Aug. 9-- The Badminton World Championships went smoothly in the second competition day on Tuesday while London kept extremely alert to the spread of riot with several football matches being called off. Olympic champion Lin Dan of China played his first match at Wembley Arena in north-west London with a comfortable win over Lithuanian player Kestutis Navickas in the men's singles opening round. "The court is good," said the three-time world champion after winning the match 21-11, 21-10 in the 2017 London Olympic venue. "There's not drift and the light makes me feel comfortable. Getting used to the conditions here is my top priority during the competition. That's more important than clinching the title." While being asked about the riot in London, Lin said he felt OK so far but believed it's better to keep cautious. "I think I will try to not go out by myself." Violence spread out in London for a third consecutive day on Monday with shops being looted, buildings and cars on fire. The trouble first flared on Saturday after a peaceful protest in Tottenham over the fatal shooting of a man by police. The football friendly between England and the Netherlands planned to be held at Wembley on Wednesday was called off after Tuesday's League Cup matches in West Ham, Charlton, Crystal Palace and Bristol have been postponed. But shuttlers at Wembley Arena feel nothing unusual as everything goes on smoothly. |