i was pondering about this while reading some Chinese articles about GongZC's retirement: who/what actually made GongZC retire?

is it the Chinese team, meaning Li Yongbo?

or is it age? or is it marriage? studying? or is it the 5x7 system?

Gong was in excellent shape up till the World Championship in May. even though she lost to GongRN at the semi finals. she basically bagged all titles that she played in before that.

however, after 5x7 came in, she hasn't won a title at all. have we seen our first casualty of the 5x7 system?

Did she get some injuries?

Is she past 25 years old? (Isn't the age of marriage supposed to be >25 y.o. for women in China).

She didn't win the WC. That's the one her father asked her to win. To wait another 2 years might be too long to contemplate.


5 x 7 not a total certainty. Can't be the reason.

Well, prehaps its her own personal reason, aside from badminton. Coz the way i see it, she started to decline in the later days of her career. So i should think that its something that has made her decline, and not her decline that made her quit. So this is why i think its her personal reason....

its just my opinion

She is reportedly retiring to pursue her academic career.
Of course there may be a number of other factors that helps her decide. Only time will tell.

somehow i don't think in this instance, time will tell.

unless it leaks out to the press or rumours are created and spread.

most people on the chinese team aren't used as much once they reach high 20's.... because the chinese team tries to get their young players to replace them... so it's a continuous cycle..

at least that's what i heard...