Lin Dan still the best, says Peter Gade

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In the process, the Olympic champion from China could help the famous 116-year-old tournament clarify the confused picture at the top of the men's game, at a time when the new Olympic qualifying period is only a few weeks away.

So says Peter Gade, the former world number one and the last European to win the All-England men's singles, who insists that badminton needs a period of competitive stability which Lin Dan and this year's All-England might help provide.

"It's been the strangest transformation recently," claimed the long-lasting Dane, who retired at the 2012 Olympics after more than a decade and a half at the top.

"There's a huge group of about 12 or 13 players who can beat each other, but hopefully we will see a much clearer picture before the Olympics. The game needs that."

Although Lin Dan is already 31 he is still good enough to win the 2016 Olympics, Gade believes, and capable of regaining the All-England title this week, despite being seeded only fifth.

"I don't see a big change if he is on top form," Gade said. "He is still the best player. He has shown that on several occasions. If there's a question then it's a question whether he wants to play.

"It's a strange period for him too. From the outside we can't know what the reason is for him not playing," said Gade, referring to Lin's infrequent tournaments since changing his mind about retiring after the London Olympics.

Lin's chances this week may be greater because Lee Chong Wei, the Malaysian who holds the All-England title, cannot defend it until doping allegations against him have been heard.

This delay in coming to a decision is harmful, Gade insists. "We need to move past the problem, whichever way we do it," he said. "It's impossible to say whether what happened was right or wrong - but we need a decision."

Since Lee's absence from the tour Chen Long, the world champion from China, has become number one, though Gade does not rule out a fellow Dane this week becoming the first in 16 years to follow his All-England triumph.

"Jan (Jorgensen) is the closest," Gade says of his second-seeded compatriot. "But there is a big group which includes Jan, and he has to show he can be stable at this highest level.