You have to be TALL to be professional in China

**koo_fan** · 08-22-2007, 04:09 AM

What is the minimum heights needed?

**maryanne** · 08-22-2007, 04:18 AM

Originally Posted by ants

Zhang Yawen is short around 4 feet plus.

If she is 4' +, that is pretty short by any standard. I guess the operating word here is the Chinese team PREFERS tall players, but skill still prevails, as mentioned in previous responses

**Krisna** · 08-22-2007, 05:50 AM

Originally Posted by maryanne

If she is 4' +, that is pretty short by any standard. I guess the operating word here is the Chinese team PREFERS tall players, but skill still prevails, as mentioned in previous responses

Yup! Gong Zhichao was not as tall as Zhang Ning, Xie Xinfang etc. In general taller competitors have a lot of edge. But who defeated Xie Xinfang last week? WMC! How tall is she?

As for INA ladies... yeah, Susi and Mia was good enough to lead INA to 2 Uber Cup wins against Ye Zhaoying, Zhang Ning, & co. in 1994 and 1996...

**LazyBuddy** · 08-22-2007, 07:39 AM

Originally Posted by maryanne

If she is 4' +, that is pretty short by any standard. I guess the operating word here is the Chinese team PREFERS tall players, but skill still prevails, as mentioned in previous responses

I agree. The physical build might give someone an edge during selection, but the racket still does the talk. I can see if down to the last 2 candidates, and 1 must go home, the taller one might win out. However, if a shorter player has a much better record than the taller opponents, she still has a safe spot in the team, just look at Gong Zhichao and Zhang Yawen.

**abedeng** · 08-22-2007, 08:35 PM

Originally Posted by ants

Zhang Yawen is short around 4 feet plus.

Are u sure? I would think she is at least 160cm. She might look shorter because her body mass is quite thin.

**thiery** · 08-22-2007, 11:54 PM

Originally Posted by abedeng

Are u sure? I would think she is at least 160cm. She might look shorter because her body mass is quite thin.

I think Yap Kim Hock is as tall as Zhang Yawen.

**samuel882** · 08-22-2007, 11:59 PM

IMO.. shorter players is better suit for Doubles event.. They can control the front court with their skills. where else ,playing in Singles, u needs certain height to move around all the corner with the good footwork..

**OneToughBirdie** · 08-23-2007, 12:20 AM

Originally Posted by thiery

I think Yap Kim Hock is as tall as Zhang Yawen.

Minus the hair, YKH looks shorter...hehehe!!!LOL!!

**abedeng** · 08-23-2007, 12:57 AM

YKH is only about 168-170cm tall, if I'm not mistaken. Ng Boon Bee was even shorter, 165 cm I think.

I remember one INA WD player, was it Lili Tampi, who was supposedly under 5 feet tall. But Zhang Yawen surely is much taller than that.

Gong Zhichao plays quite similar to Susi Susanti's style, and had loads of stamina like Susi and Wong Mew Choo.