Do people still have confidence in the chinese singles players like before? I just get the feeling China is on a downward path. Bit unfair on Lin Dan & Bao CL I guess but I just wonder if they have stagnated.
I think the problem for Bao Chunlai and Lin Dan are not skill, but mental issues. Both are relatively young, and still need some time to develop their mental strength and getting more experience. For Chen Hong, I think he kinda injuried somehow. At least, so far, Xia Xuanze kinda relatively consistent for the team. Let's see what will happen in the next 2, 3 yrs.
Chinese Mixed Doubles is going down quickly too. When Ge Fei/Liu Yong have stopped dominiating in the Mixed Doubles scene, Gao Ling/Zhang Jun have become the best mixed pair in the world. Now that Gao/Zhang have stopped dominiating, nobody from China seem to have picked up where they have left off.
A lot of people put the blame on Li Yongbo for making smart decisions again. They put Tang Xianhu to the MD department hoping to pull up the standard there but before any results can be seen from the MD players, the standard of the MS players have dropped quite evidently without Tang. As for Zhang/Gao, it's the repeat of Ge/Liu. When they are at their peak, having won the 2 most prestigious titles as Olympic and World Champions, Li YB split them up so that they could concentrate on the TC/UC. (Li is too hungry for the TC) Despite that, the MDs couldn't improve in time and still cost the team the chance of a final in TC. Shortly after, Tang was transferred to coach them, and the whole MD department went on a tough training camp for a month or so. As such, Gao and Zhang had almost no time to train together. For the Asian Games, they only played together for 2 weeks before setting off. Gao said in an interview they have lost the feel of playing together.
Maybe "pressure" is another issue. Once u been considered as the "favorite" to be the champ, u r under extremely high pressure - "can never loss". Therefore, once u r leading, u r "rushing" to finish; once u r losing, it will hard to accept the truth, and even harder to play catch up. The "leading ---> got catch up ---> lose" happened several times to MS this past year. Result in China losing "insured" MS, and then lose the team medal in Asian game and TC.
Have also the feeling the drop in form of Chinese MS is related to coaching. It could be coincidence, but feel that Chinese selection especially in mens', dropped when Hou Jia Chang and Wang Wen Jiao retired. At same time, Indonesia mens' singles became much stronger under Tang Xian Fu. After Tang returned to China MS improved greatly. China did not only have 1 strong singles player. It has a few, similar to Indonesia in the early 90's.
My 2 cents opinion is that Chen Hong is improving by leaps and bounds and is going to dominate the next few years along with Taufik, Xia has limited skills and ball sense and fitness and very predictable in eyes of more matured players. Lin Dan and Bao are sure to take over from Chen Hong after they tune themselves of playing to 15 point system,Lin seems to have unique skills. Perhaps in 15 points system they should mix experience and youth. Hendrawan and Ong Ewe Hock are very skillfull and crafty and experienced and difficult to beat.Taufik is unique talent. Recent results cannot be used as benchmark as I think they are off-peak. unlike Taufik and the Koreans. Watch the game between Taufik and Chen Hong in 2002 Ina Open and observe the highly technical ,skillful, tactical approach to the game much like Sun Jun and Gade in 1999 Sudirman Cup.It could be the sign of many more matches to come.
Hafiz What do you guys think about Hafiz Hashim? I think this lad really has potential. He can be a great champion if given proper guidance.
With the fact that Chinese MD and XD kinda downhill, is that because the fact "single can make ppl to be famous easier, while double u have to share the honor with ur partner?" Just wondering...
Just looking at current men's singles for China. Chen Hong - won the ABC early on. didn't get selected for the Olympics. The next year he's first choice for Sudirman cup Xia Xuan Ze - has a great early 2000. Wins German, All England. Loses to Hendrawan in 2000 TC and Olympics. Starts to fade but picks up again for mid 2001 by winning WGPF and ABC. Now? Lin Dan - Korean Open 2002 winner still playing. Bao Chun Lai - Denmark Open 2001 winner. Now in secret hiding. Is he going for ABC? Hashim ? He has the intensity and has the control. can he keep it up?
Bao Chunlai underwent a knee operation after the Asian Games. It's supposedly the same kinda operation which Gade went through, which means he will be out of competition for a few months as well. The MS from China attending the ABC tentatively are only Chen Hong, Xia Xuanze and Chen Yu.
