I remember when Taufik won Olympic Gold and World Championships people were making a big fuss about how great this was. I think Taufik even got an award from the World Body of Badminton. So now that Lin Dan has done the same thing and even add the most prestigious and oldest open badminton tournament doesn't that mean that Lin Dan is greater than Taufik. Taufik always wanted to win AE but never did win. Lin Dan now has won these 3 most prestigious tournaments in the world of badminton. Super Dan has eclipsed Taufik's achievements.
I wouldn't say eclipsed. But I would say improved upon. It's not going to change the fact that I still prefer Taufik to *watch* .
Surely Lin Dan achieve much more than Taufik. World #1 in 4 years and still counting stated it all. IMHO, Taufik is just too arrogant, lack of discipline and boastful.
I have already concluded LD has the best ever MS player in my dictionary, though I know many might not agree.
actually lin dan beat taufik twice in 2006 AG; in qualifying and team events for the team gold title. Lets cut the chase, no one come close to LD for the next 2 years at least. Since next AG is in 2010, let save us all some trouble and just give the 2010 AG MS gold title to LD now. Even if LD win 2010 AG title, u would say LD lacks INA Open title. No problem, 2009 is only around the corner, LD can easily bag the IO title IF HE WANT TO attend. Let me ask u this, have TH or LCW win titles from china open/master, HK Open, Taipei Open? here is the list of achievement of Lin Dan. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lin_Dan
Asian Games is not as prestigious as AE, WC or Olympic. Asian Games is only open to Asian players. I know the best players are in Asia but to be prestigious a tournament has to be open to all players in the world. Danish players like Peter Gade and Kenneth Jonassen cannot attend Asian Games. Asian Games might be very prestigious in Asia but then again so is European Championships in Europe. To be considered a world prestigious tournament it has to be open to ALL world players. In any event the tournaments that players want to win most are AE, WC and Olympic. I think players like Lin Dan and Taufik regards AE higher than Asian Games.
LD is the greatest player of this era and one the greatest of all time. But THE greatest of all time, hard to say. We should only decide after his retirement.
I prefer watching the Harlem Globetrotters in basketball but they are all show and not world champions are they. What's the point of looking good and being entertaining but you don't really achieve much. I'd rather be boring (but playing smart with good tactics) and win all the tournaments I play in. Like it or not the aim of playing sports is to win and not to entertain. If you want to entertain then you should join the circus.
That was pretty quick update in wikpedia on LinDan. According to that list LD has 3 AE titles, two World champ, 1 Olympic Taufik did say his WC was more prestigious because of the 2 year cycle but LD has captured both WC in two consecutive years. I think LD has edged past TH. Is he the greatest now? If you judge by modern era titles (post 1990), he has it. He still is not my most favourite singles player. That goes to Sun Jun and Hendrawan.
[/i] ..and the MO, IO...Indian Open...Vietnam Open... and the list goes on. Never mind what LD has achieved todate, there will always be people who will never want to accept historical facts for reasons only known to themselves. BTW, IMO, dear old Taufik like LD, certainly have 'spiced' up the masses' interests in badminton with their 'colourful' characters. Congrats LD and the rest of the gold medallists in the other badminton events.
Cheugn, I feel exactly the same way. I think Sun Jun is the smartest badminton player while Hendrawan is the most skillful player.
Yes I do know, just adding it on for Pemuda - thanks anyway... and glad to have you back after a long absence.
i would rate him as the best player of the new millenium, even though i can't spell the word. he has great technique, amazing stamina and in the mental department he is peerless, definitely the most consistent player on the circuit. kudos to him!