TC team strategy : China vs. Korea

[kwun]

the most recent world rankings shows that Lee Dong Soo and Yoo Yung Sung is ranked world #3, higher than the stronger pair of Kim Dong Moon and Ha Tae Kwon. have they made a tactical mistake? with the current rankings, they are forced to stage Lee/Yoo as first doubles, and Kim/Ha as second.

when faced against China, Lee/Yoo has a lower chance of beating Zhang/Zhang. whereas Korea will grab the 2nd doubles either way.

China is banking on their singles players to excel. however, if Korea loses one double point, life will be much easier indeed for China.

China on the other hand, has somehow managed to have Chen Hong ranking on 4th in the world rankings. Chen Hong is much more experienced playing big events, if he recovers from the injury, he will surely grabs the 3rd single point from Korea.

btw, from the news clips in chinabadminton.com, it looks like both Zhang Wei and Chen Hong are recovering.

TC/UC is starting in just one week.

[Mag]

Does anyone have a record of previous meeting between Lee/Yoo and Zhang/Zhang? To me, that match should be a clear win for Korea. And as to Zhang Wei's injury: if he really twisted his ankle less than three weeks before the TC, then it is unlikely that he will be back to full stability and strength in time...

[kwun]

the closest i could find was Zhang Jun/Yu Jinhao beating Lee/Yoo 15-3/15-5 during the 1999 Sudirman Cup..

other than that, i cannot find any other match between the two pairs.

Lee/Yoo is in great shape though, they just won the Swiss Open, and i don't even remember the Zhang's ever winning any Grand Prix Opens at all.

[whizkelv]

Kwun, you have forgotten!
The Zhangs beat Lee-Yoo in the last TC semis to clinch the winning point for China.
Also, the Zhangs are the 2001 China Open champions.

[kwun]

whizkelv: thanks, yes, i missed those!

it is going to be a close match between China, Denmark and Korea.