Zhao Yunlei Express is now boarding! ( 赵芸蕾 )

**RedShuttle** · 12-08-2008, 06:03 PM

Time to get on board with the rising star Zhao Yunlei (赵芸蕾/趙芸蕾)

The Zhao Yunlei/Cheng Shu WD team went from nowhere to top ten ranking in three months. Surely, they benefited from the absence and retirements of some top teams. Nevertheless, they did it, not others.

WD World Ranking as at December 4, 2008: 10th with Cheng Shu
BWF Profile: http://www.internationalbadminton.or...p?pairid=94794

The Zhao Yunlei/Xu Chen MD team is also on the rise. With one Gold GP win and one 2nd place finish in a SS event.

MD World Ranking as at December 4, 2008: 49th with Xu Chen (3 events played)
BWF Profile: http://www.internationalbadminton.or...p?pairid=58700

Both of Zhao Yunlei's parents were athletes. Her mother is a tennis coach who thinks girls shouldn't be tanned as much as tennis players. Therefore, badminton, being indoor and away from the sun, became ZYL's sport.

Both Zhao YL and Cheng Shu were singles players on the junior National Team. They were switched to doubles when entering the National 2nd Team where Zhao was the captain of the WD team.

Zhao YL was Gao Ling's WD partner at the 10th National Games. Zhao: "Gao Ling is not only a good player, but also an impeccable person. There are so much to learn from." "There are too much too learn. The only way is one step at a time."

Although the Zhao/Cheng team has yet to beat Du/Yu. Zhao, partnered with Wang Xiaoli, beat Du/Yu in the final of 2007 National Championship.

Acid Test for commentators: lesser commentators would presumably call the bigger Cheng Shu is the attacking specialist on the Z/C team. Expert commentators would point out that Zhao is the better attacker.

Comment by a former player on the Macao MD Final (won by Zhao/Xu): "Zhao YunLei is at a different level from the other three players."

Current state of the game: fierce attacker at and away from the net, the Z/C team can attack relentlessly like Yang Wei/Zhang Jie Wen at their prime; high unforced errors.

One final salute to YW/ZJW. ZYL/CS in 2012

**RedShuttle** · 12-08-2008, 11:48 PM

Oops. Obviously, the reference to MD should have been XD in the above. Not sure why I can't edit.

**george@chongwei** · 12-09-2008, 02:30 AM

welcome to the forum as well, redshuttle

***Oldhand*** · 12-09-2008, 07:30 AM

Originally Posted by RedShuttle

Oops. Obviously, the reference to MD should have been XD in the above. Not sure why I can't edit.

You can edit your post immediately after you submit it.
You can't edit your post after, say, 5 hrs & 45 mins

**RedShuttle** · 12-10-2008, 05:28 PM

... in her home town of YiChang, also the home town of bronze medalist Wei Yili.

Waiting

More waiting

Receiving the flame

Sprinting away

**suetyan** · 12-10-2008, 08:50 PM

RedShuttle is ZYL's super fans

**RedShuttle** · 12-10-2008, 10:01 PM

I can't help but laugh at those torch relay pictures. Is it even possible to take a worse set of pictures?

On the other hand, I am amazed at what can be found on the Net. I think neither the photographer nor myself had any idea who ZYL was.

The pictures were from http://www.tianya.cn/publicforum/con...1/134182.shtml. Torch Bearers on that day included 001 Li Ting (Olympics WD Gold Medalist ... in tennis) and 159 Karen Mok (Hong Kong pop star). "003" on the shirt was the only thing that tied the pictures to ZYL.

**RedShuttle** · 12-12-2008, 01:43 PM

With the absence from SS Masters, Zhao YunLei Express is now in maintenance until March 2009. Please hold on to your tickets for the next ride

Meanwhile, the first international title and the neck breaking medals at Austrian International Championships 2007

Another One Heart Pose

**RedShuttle** · 03-02-2009, 08:30 AM

First competition of the year, two titles at German Open.

It's going to get more interesting at AE. CS/ZYL is the lone Chinese entry in the top half of the WD draw. In XD, the first match is a replay of the GO Final, against ZB/MJ.

**tommy_bun** · 03-02-2009, 09:29 AM

Originally Posted by RedShuttle

First competition of the year, two titles at German Open.

It's going to get more interesting at AE. CS/ZYL is the lone Chinese entry in the top half of the WD draw. In XD, the first match is a replay of the GO Final, against ZB/MJ.

I hope she will make it to the final in WD although she is unseeded
As for MX,If you see their next round opponents,I think it will be better if Zheng Bo/Ma Jin to progress

**george@chongwei** · 03-03-2009, 01:01 AM

omg, she shouts very loud every time she wins a rally

**B-KJoe** · 03-03-2009, 03:49 AM

I think she looks like Lee Kyung Won of KOR.

**RedShuttle** · 03-04-2009, 08:59 AM

Originally Posted by tommy_bun

I hope she will make it to the final in WD although she is unseeded
As for MX,If you see their next round opponents,I think it will be better if Zheng Bo/Ma Jin to progress

You sound like LYB. From the team perspective, it is better to have the MX specialists to go through. It is a big task for ZYL to defend both halves of WD and XD.

**suetyan** · 03-04-2009, 09:02 AM

Originally Posted by B-KJoe

I think she looks like Lee Kyung Won of KOR.

yes, agree. I have the same view with you. I also think that she looks like LKW

Too bad she has lost in her XD in round 32 just now. Never mind, concentrate in WD.

**tommy_bun** · 03-04-2009, 11:07 AM

Originally Posted by RedShuttle

You sound like LYB. From the team perspective, it is better to have the MX specialists to go through. It is a big task for ZYL to defend both halves of WD and XD.

I just try to read LYB's mind

**tommy_bun** · 03-07-2009, 10:25 PM

Wow...Zhao Yun Lei/Cheng Su will rank 3 by next week(correct me if Im wrong) and bacome china no 1 WD.
However there's a mistake by BWF in adding their points.When they reached last 16 at Denmark they should have gained 3600 but BFW gave them 2220 which is the point for round 32.

**limsy** · 03-08-2009, 05:35 AM

Originally Posted by tommy_bun

Wow...Zhao Yun Lei/Cheng Su will rank 3 by next week(correct me if Im wrong) and bacome china no 1 WD.
However there's a mistake by BWF in adding their points.When they reached last 16 at Denmark they should have gained 3600 but BFW gave them 2220 which is the point for round 32.

if they win...maybe higher...