as the post date shows,.... it's now 2010 Aug. It's been like since 2003/04? that Lin Dan has been imposing his ever dominance over World Badminton... Regardless Ranked World no. 1 or not. They Called Chen Hong LYB prototype and Lin Dan his perfection. But since, has there really another that stood quite up to the mark? Not quite. China Standard wise. Lin Dan is the crem dela crem (spelt right?) of modern world badminton. Outstanding Physique Amazing Talent (stay on topic... Badminton!) Imaculate Sense of The Game Varsatile to changes in the game and age Super Personality. it's been over 6 years at least now. So LYB, as your Top Dog retires some time soon, who's next?
..who's next in CHN's junior MS players after LD?: Tian Houwei Wang Zhengming (check out his thread, "Zhengming Wang: the next super king", not too far from this thread also).. ..not quite the perfection as that of LD, but they probably will continue the legacy of CHN MS power.. ..or ask limsy who's been watching & following these 2 players..
Is it me or does the new batch of CHN players always take at least 1 year hiatus from World Badminton after their junior year? Chen Long disapeared for 1 year only to reemerge 'not bad' china wise. I thin he was injured but to be taken for a run by a little twerp like Arif is kinda sad. Lu QiCheng was on and off the radar. Hardly any impact. To the person I spoke to last time. I told you so Tian Houwei for as far as I'm concern seemed to have completely disapeared after World Junior. Even if he was around.... If a tree falls down deep in the forest of China... did it really happen? Same stories for Qiu Yanbo Gong Weiji Chen Jin seems to be the only exception in recent years of China Junior MS graduation to Open category.
Chen Jin was indeed an exception. He won the WJC at 16 y.o. (2002) and then at 18 y.o. (2004).. OTOH, LD never won the WJC (lost to BCL) but he went on to dominate.. ..there won't be another LD, BCL & CJ, but their junior MS squad is still as loaded as one can imagine..
Yes, true. They will still eat up the Boleh Army in comparison. Due to economies of scale. Unless McD can help us throw a spanner in CHN works. But I think CHN fans will still be abit dissapointed and unimpressed. Which makes it sad? Relatively
Isn't it sad that it seems a consensus to everybody thinking it's all downhill from here and no one's gonna eclipse Lin Dan for a long time? It's like watching LOTR 1, 2 & 3 over the span of the trilogys' release... then when it's over find that we don't quite have anything to look forward to kinda feeling? If this is Despairing us... I wonder how LYB is feeling?
..after 2012, i think everyone, not only CHN or Jia You fans will still be a bit disappointed and unimpressed.. M'sia and all the Boleh fans with LCW's retirement? Indonesia and all their fans, well they've been disappointed waiting for the "next" Taufik? Korea and their Dae Hanmingook fans? Choi Ho Jin to the rescue??.. DEN might have a savior in Viktor Axelsen..
We got nothing to worry about , there are so many talents coming through that china would still be the dominant force in badminton especially in MS . with LYB as the coach , I have faith in him to develop another LD maybe even a few if LD decided to take up a coaching role within the team .... I dont think any of our fan would be too despair , the possibility is endless !!! on the other hand as ctjcad mentioned , what going to happen if LCW decided to retire because all the strain he put on himself/injuries from playing 30000 tournements a year !
Cannot see any potential candidates now.. Can be from either country, but the time is hard to predict. Just like Taufik, cannot find in many years to come
INA & Korea have their XD & MD herosheroine to wet their appetite(assuming Lilyana dont retire after 2012, LYD of course is still around). China is the one who's strong in MS, WS, WD. Tian Hou Wei is supposed next in line, but Wang ZM will be up 1st as the senior. They will have Denmark's Viktor to contend with.
INA may have a saviour in Hayom Rumbaka. He comes from the Djarum club (the most successful club in INA), the same club where Liem Swie King, Heryanto Arbi, etc were made famous.
Rumbaka is already 21 y.o. and he hasn't won any significant tourneys, yet; mostly local/domestic & 1 GP-level tourneys..Taufik, when he was Rumbaka's age, had already reached the AE Final & won the AG MS title and INA Open tourneys..
LCW did not win his major tournament (Taipei Open) until 2004, when he was 22. I hope Hayom can beat Boonsak today and go on win the Taipei Open at the age of 21. Peter Gade also won his first major tournament, again Taipei open as well as HK and German open, at the age of 21. Well, i wont disagree with you, that Hayom is no Taufik. But at least, ATM looks like he's INA best hope in securing the tradition of having best players. From Rudy Hartono (70s) to King/Icuk (80s) to the era of Alan Budikusuma/Joko/Arbi/Hendrawan (90s) generation and to TH (00s) era, INA never sort of producing WC. SDK should have taken the mantle, but its so unfortunate that injury prevented him to be better (maybe same can be said to Chen Jin). Hayom, OTOH looks like to fit the bill, he's tall, fast, has a stinging powerful smash (from what i can see from youtube when he plays Bambang), also have the right people/club around him. So lets see what he can do......
In LD case, there should not be a worry for China to find his replacement. He would/may not be as good as LD but at least will be very2 good. I dont know much about Chinese junior players but im sure among 1.3 billion people surely there is one talent.