SINGAPORE — Local badminton fans will be able to catch Chinese superstar Lin Dan live in action again at the Singapore Indoor Stadium, with the 32-year-old confirming his participation in April’s OUE Singapore Open.

The Olympic and world champion last featured at the US$350,000 (S$500,300) Singapore Open in 2011, but drew the ire of fans after pulling out of the men’s singles final against team-mate Chen Jin at the 11th hour.

The world No 5 shuttler — the only badminton player to complete the Super Grand Slam of all nine major titles in the sport — is making a bid for his third Olympic gold in the men’s singles in Rio de Janeiro.

“It’s been a while since I last came to Singapore and I am looking forward to returning here to earn as many qualifying points as I can before the Olympic qualifying period closes,” he said.

Lin is part of the 31-strong Chinese contingent heading to Singapore for the April 12 to 17 tournament. Among the star-studded team are men’s world No 1 Chen Long, and two-time Singapore Open champion Wang Yihan (women’s world No 4), while Sun Yu and Olympic champions Zhang Nan and Zhao Yunlei will return to defend their respective women’s singles and mixed doubles titles.

“I won my first Superseries title at the OUE Singapore Open last year and I’m definitely looking forward to go back to Singapore to defend my title and meeting my fans,” said Sun.

The OUE Singapore Open is the last Superseries event for shuttlers to earn qualifying points for the Rio Olympics, and event organisers are hoping to attract some of the sport’s star names to the indoor stadium.

“With the China team lending their support to our event, we are confident that more big name entries will start to fly in,” said Ng Yoke Weng, organising chairman of the 2016 OUE Singapore Open.

“Fans can expect to see mouth-watering clashes between top shuttlers from around the world battle for the US$350,000 prize purse.” LOW LIN FHOONG

Early bird tickets to the Singapore Open are available at Sports Hub Tix until Feb 12