Definetly Lin Dan. Although he's not my favourite player, but he's certainly the best player in the world. Chen Hong, Xia Xuanze, Yang Yang and Zhao Jian Hua are also good ! I hope to hear more about Ji Xin Peng, really never heard about him before.
The greatest for China in my opinion were: 1. Yang Yang 2. Zhao Jianhua 3. Sun Jun 4. Xia Xuanze 5. Dong Jiong
My reasons: Yang Yang (twice world champion and 1988 Olympic Test Event MS Champion) Zhao Jianhua (All England and World Champion) Sun Jun (World Champion, All England Champion, World Junior Champion, World Championships Runner Up) Xia Xuanze (World Champion, 2000 Olympic Bronze Medallist, 2000 World Grand Prix Finals Winner, All England Champion) Dong Jiong (1996 Olympic Silver Medallist, All England Champion)
Sigh! I don't remember Yang Yang ever beated Zhao before. My most favorite player, Zhao, would have been 3 times world champion (2 + 1), All England, and 1988 Olympic Test Event MS Champion if not because of lung problem.
Sun Jun was only 5'5" wasn't he? I remember watching him play Peter Rasmussen in the 1997 world championships...that was one of the craziest singles games i've ever watched.
Career Achievement - Zhao Jian Hua Career Achievement - Zhao Jian Hua Year Tournament Venue 1985 All England Championships U.k. 1985 Japan Open Japan 1985 Asia Badminton Championships Malaysia 1986 Malaysia Open Malaysia 1986 Asian Games China 1987 China Open China 1987 Thailand Open Thailand 1987 World Cup Malaysia 1987 Singapore Open Singapore 1988 Thomas Cup Malaysia 1990 All England Championships U.k. 1990 Thomas Cup Japan 1990 Asian Games China 1991 World Badminton Championships Denmark 1991 World Grand Prix Finals Malaysia
Career Achievement - Yang Yang Career Achievement - Yang Yang Year Tournament Venue 1984 China National Badminton Championships China 1985 Hong Kong Open Hong Kong 1986 Thomas Cup Indonesia 1986 World Grand Prix Finals Malaysia 1986 Japan Open Japan 1986 Hong Kong Open Hong Kong 1986 China National Badminton Championships China 1987 World Badminton Championships China 1987 Sweden Open Sweden 1987 Malaysia Open Malaysia 1987 Indonesia Open Indonesia 1987 China National Games China 1988 Olympic Demostration Korea 1988 Thomas Cup Malaysia 1988 World Cup Thailand 1988 Singapore Open Singapore 1989 Australia Anniversary Invitation Australia 1989 World Badminton Championships Indonesia 1989 World Cup China 1989 All England Championships U.k. 1989 Japan Open Japan 1990 Thomas Cup Japan 1990 Asian Games China
I will definitely put Yangyang and Sun Jun ahead of Zhao. No doubt that Zhao JH is the best, natural talent wise. However, Yang Yang and Sun Jun earn more respect from me, due to their hard working, smart strategy and more consistantcy. Xia is my favorite, if you talking about the "fighting spirit".
I think Yang Yang is the best, and then talent wise, Zhao Jianhua. The others are not in the same level. Sun Jun some times lose miserably when he is not in good shape ( for example, 1998 Thomas cup, losing 1-15 or something to Peter Gade in the first game, it looks they are not in the same level during that game), but I can't remember any such things happen to Yang Yang. Even facing a peak Zhao Jianhua or Morten Frost, Yang Yang can manage to make the game look quite even and get a lot of points. Therefore I put Sun Jun below Yang and Zhao. Worldwise, I put Peter Gade > Sun Jun > Hendrawan.