...just like last year, who do you think will be that player(s)??..I don't quite remember, need to check, but last year Taufik and Zhang Ning was the big winner?? with couple others??.. Who will get it this year??..
In terms of consistency, I nominate 4 players/pairs: 1. Zhang Ning -- world no 1, with 6 titles and finalists in 3 other tournaments (German Open, All England and World Championships -- losing to Xie Xingfang in these 3) 2. Yang Wei/Zhang Jiewen -- world no 1, Olympic and World Champion, with 5 titles 3. Candra Wijaya/Sigit Budiarto -- world no 1 with 4 titles and 4 runner-ups (including World Championships) 4. Nathan Robertson/Gail Emms -- world no 3, reigning All England Champion with 3 titles and 2 runner-ups.
"Eddy Choong Player of the Year" Officially it's called the "Eddy Choong Player of the Year" award...and last year's recipient was none other than...............Taufik Hidayat.. http://www.worldbadminton.net/Portal/desktopdefault.aspx?tabid=10&ItemID=1685 Will he repeat again this year??....we shall wait and see for the announcement sometimes next January.. But there has been instance(s) where more than 1 player shared the award...hmm, i know it involved Kim Dong Moon...akh, forgot which year..anyone knows or know a link to the history of this individual-based award??..
knowing IBF's track record, they will probably award it to Tony and Howard for their one time achievement in the WC.
I concur with Kwun on this issue !!! It will just add to their recent achievement of winning 05 LA Greatest Sports Moment of the year for the Olympic sports division. Hope they will get chosen .....
maybe baochunlai after the WC2005, he was on fire, he made it to semifinals in just about every event... and he went form what 5th seed to 2nd. Thats excelent.
The award goes to ... I think Lin Dan should be the one to win as he won most of the IBF tournaments. We are not picking popular player rather achievement award so who won more titles than Lin Dan in 2005? Only Zhang Ning, Xie Xingfang, Yang/Zhang can come close. Come to think of it, I think Yang/Zhang(WD) won more titles than Lin Dan if I am not mixtaken? Just my opinion and I don't have law degree
LOL! I hope Sab, Indra, Jug, and others don't coming debating this post. And yes, as I stated before, I agree, LD should be Player of the Year and I bet he'll win it.
Lee Chun Wei got my vote. Although, he didn't win so many majors but he has proved himself to be a worthy competitor in the international level.
I agree. They made the most shocking upset in the biggest event, and more important, open up the new chapter in the "new found land". Therefore, "impact" vise, they did the most contribution.
The thing is the award is not about winning lots of IBF tournaments (this is already rewarded by world ranking) but about marking History of badminton somehow... I don't think IBF ever gave the award to a player/pair who hadn't been world /olympic champion the same year. (except for 2002 of course ) If you look at the five world champions, the ones that mark History are clearly Tony and Howard. Taufik comes second for winning WC straight after being olympic champion but he was already rewarded last year, so there is very little chance of him being picked. I think the only question now is only whether Tony alone or Tony and Howard together will be rewarded as Player Of The Year... Both cases have been seen... (Candra alone in 2000, Kim alone in 2002, Kim/Ra together in 2003)