Lin Dan on his way to first title of 2014

Lin Dan in a file photo. He faces junior Tian Houwei in the China Masters Grand Prix Gold final.

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia were sent packing at the China Masters Grand Prix Gold in Changzhou, while local hero and five-time world champion Lin Dan is on the verge of winning his first title since making a comeback.

On Saturday, mixed doubles pair Tan Aik Quan-Lim Yin Loo went down fighting 15-21, 21-17, 12-21 to China’s Lu Kai-Huang Yaqiong in a 65-minute semi-final match.