Thanks mate. From the other column, it seems that Lin Dan was told not to win - his turn will come and that's what he did. Zhang and Wang are both former WJC but Wang's game has not improved by coming to HK. Although she now has a grand life and lots of things, her training and regime have gone to prices - the result is not surprising. She's fallen at the last hurdles twice in a row - what does that tell you? The rusprise is that Ha/Ra won the XD but it was always a touch and go thing for these two veteran pairs. JC
The commentator for the Indonesian Open said that when Wang Chen was still in China, she was dropped for her inconsistent form. It seems that has not changed. Does HK really have poorer quality training for its badminton players?
About Wang Chen - its true that an official reasons she/ HKBA gave for her coming to HK was to get on the team every time i.e. she could not get enough frontline action in China or she's not consistent enough. However, when she came a China BA rounded on her and HKBA; altho there was no official comment, the China BA must have authorized this unofficial protest. The real reason may be simpler - she wanted resdiential rights and good life. HKBA does not have the 'training camp' regime in China where players don't see the family for weeks/ months and there is a strict 'lights off', wake-up, running, shot-making, strategy clinics, and weights/exercise room routine, 6 days a week and light work on the 7th day. HK 'camps' last a few days and at other training sessions people turn up late, report ill etc and all depends on the coach's response on the day - and coaches tend to be soft on stars. I don't expect her to change now. KIM
Where do you guys get this news ? Yes it's true her form has drop. Maybe wrong training program or maybe not that effective as in China.
Not being "au fait" with each camp's organisation of training sessions, I am in no position to comment. I did read in the paper that LiYongBo was very unhappy with her switching to HK. Did she actually say somewhere that she came to HK for a better life? But then again, that's what a lot of people do. Otherwise the world would not have people who emigrate/travel overseas for education or employment.
Re China's training regimes : se China Sports a monthly published by China in several languages. It also helps if you live in HK where it concerns HK/Chinese players. Occasionally trainees - not only in badminton but also other sports in which China specializes e.g. TT, diving, give interviews and comment on the tough routine, injuries, quarrels with coaches or rivals, penalties and punishment, and the delights of getting a weekend off once in months to visit parents. Many kids are spotted by a local coach and talent scouts and they start p-t then if any good, go full-time in sports schools at regional, provincial and eventually the Beijing training camp. Once selected, often under 10 years old, they are virtually captive guests of the coaches and eventually fall under the national management of that sport. Everything is paid for after a certain stage on the way up, but the price is total commitment. One can imgaine the thousands who are dropped or drop out after the initial stages, but the pool is immense. But look at some of the beautiful physical specimens they eventually bring to the big events - all brought up and built-up on state money. Kim's spokesman.
BTW, did you know that Wang Chen cannot now play in China because she cannot get a travel document to come and go? This is the publickly stated reason for her exclusion from the HK team for the All China Games in November. Remember He Zhili the TT world Champion at Delhi in 1985? She was told to lose, but she won, so she was dropped from team and life became so much hell that she had to leave the country and become a Japanese citizen. You might think this is victimization, but from another angle, these girls were very selfish and quite ruthless: after living off the state for years and getting fame thro its help, they opted for a better sponsor, better life and country. Trouble is there are always sugar daddies around. Problem is their sports goes up the spout. Kim's Spokesman's Assistant
Recently there was a book written in Singapore about how many young China girls go overseas to milk rich old uncles there.Some Chinese retorted that it doesn't make sense as there are probably so many more rich old uncles in China than Singapore why go so far? If you look at Wang Chen, she must be the most glamorous player on the circuit on par with Camilla, her clothes must be made by some Hong Kong boutique and she looks more like am aerobics dancer rather than a badminton player.Does she have so many starry eyed fans like Gong Rui Na?
