The Chinese golden couple of badminton Lin Dan and Xie Xingfang won different singles matches side by side on the same court  on Monday at the Beijing Olympic Games.

Lin, the world No 1 men's singles player nicknamed Super Dan, beat Ng Wei from Hong Kong at 21-16, 21-13, while his girl friend Xie Xingfang, also No.1, defeated Olga Konon at 21-16, 21-15.

The couple ended their matches at almost the same time. Xie even took a glance on Lin next to her when she was about to win.

Lin advanced into the last 16 of men's singles while Xie eased into the quarterfinals by crushing their rivals.

Lin, the favorite for the Athens Olympic Games, was eliminated in his first match four years ago by the former Singaporean dark horse Ronald Susilo, while Xie was excluded from the then Chinese Olympic team.

"I start to play hard since the very beginning, because I don't want to repeat what happened four years ago," said Lin.

His opponent Ng Wei seemed to be ready to swallow the defeat, saying "I enjoyed the game and the Olympic Games. The crowd's chants coming on him or me does not make any difference."

Lin smiled and refused to comment on the side-by-side victory with his girl friend.

Meanwhile, Xie replied when asked for her comments on the coincidence"It is the business of umpires."

Olga Konon, who won uneasy games against Xing Aiying from Singapore and Maja Tvrdy from Slovenia to be among the last 16 of women's singles, said she could have done better if she had not been nervous when facing the world No1.

"It is a marathon match and I was totally exhausted," said Olga.

(Xinhua News Agency August 11, 2008)