Is there any end of China’s dominance in international badminton? – Badminton Feature - Part 1
They clinched three gold medals when they were playing at home soil but they stunned the badminton world by claiming all of five medals in 2012 edition of Olympics. China’s such an emphatic end to London Games left a question that is there any end of their
reign in the arena?
The Chinese performed a clean sweep by clinching Men’s Singles and Doubles, Women’s Singles and Doubles crowns along with Mixed Doubles title.
Men’s Singles maestro Lin Dan was expected to defend his title this year and he lived up to the expectations by winning a historic tussle against his Malaysian nemesis Lee Chong Wei.
Similarly, World Number one Men’s Doubles pair Cai Yun-Fu Haifeng and prime Mixed Doubles partnership Zhang Nan-Zhao Yunlei also played their role to perfection. However, the most notable was the performance of young Chinese shuttlers who proved themselves
the future kings and queens of badminton world.
Above of all was Women’s Singles campaigner Li Xuerui who grabbed all the attention by wearing gold medal around her neck in her debut Olympics.
She managed to stand out despite of the presence of top class compatriot shuttlers like Wang Yihan and Wang Xin. She surpassed all these world beaters in her race to glory and gave strong statement about her future.
The 21-year-old girl was preferred over Wang Shixian, third member of famous “Wang Gang”, and she proved her selection a wise decision by serving the notice of her command over the craft. She alarmed all the contenders by sealing a straight-set victory against
the seasoned Taipei campaigner Tai Tzu Ying and then proved her mettle by stamping high ranked Wang Xin in semi-finals of the mega event.
However, Li Xuerui’s best shot was yet to come as she was scheduled to meet World Champion Wang Yihan in the grand finale. The young but spirited female player did not show any sign of bewilderment throughout this hard fought battle.
She earned highest spot on victory stand by putting a splendid show of skills in the opening and closing segments of the encounter.
China’s all Women’s Singles shuttlers are in their early twenties and they will be around for at least next eight years which means it will be an uphill task for any other country to damage Chinese supremacy in next two editions of the Olympics.
The success story of Women’s Doubles squad is even more captivating as China faced a severe blow in shape of the disqualification of World Number one duo Wang Xiaoli-Yu Yang. Badminton fraternity opened fire on China that it always has maintained its grip
through such dirty tricks.
At this stage, it’s other pair Tian Qing-Zhao Yunlei stepped forward to save the country’s honour. They played like champions and conquered the showground to authenticate their rule over the world.
Tian and Zhao exceeded prime teams like Christinna Pedersen-Kamilla Rytter Juhl, Cheng Wen Hsing-Chien Yu Chin and Mizuki Fujii-Reika Kakiiwa.
None of the above mentioned pairs could stand more than two games and crashed out after facing straight-set defeats at the hands of the invincible Chinese duo.
Both members, Tian and Zhao, of World Number two pair will turn 26 this August and their recent form and fitness tells that they will shoulder their responsibility until 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games.
Meanwhile, the presence of relatively younger World Champion pair Wang Xiaoli-Yu Yang and National Number three Bao Yixin-Zhong Qianxin shows that China has no danger of losing its status in Women’s Doubles department for least the next four years.
Continued in Part 2
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