As an American, I would be thrilled for an "GPG standard achievement" for TEAM USA, and losing out to the Russia is kinda poetic considering the historical context.
Unfortunately USA wont care about any sports when there's no white people excelling in it. This shows how racist the country is even in sports. Look what happened to USA badminton after Bach/Gunawan's historic win in Anaheim. Asians will remembered it but do the White Americans ?. Nothing has changed in 7 years.
I would suggest you look at the NBA as an answer to your first point. I wouldn't say America is not racist but by your logic American's should love Hockey, but that's just not the case. The sports Americans likes are historically just that, American in origin and have had long established history in America. The point about WC is true and it's too bad that didn't spark anything nationally. It probably helped a little locally as we have many new "badminton only" gyms coincidentally after that WC. Sad that Russia has not had a similar historic win, yet it seems they have made more progress in terms of their team's standard. I wonder if being close to China geographically helps, also having high level politician advertising and pushing their support is responsible for the increase in standard?
it's good a Russian player was able to win this yr's US Open GPG..but to be honest & not to discredit the title for Mr. Ivanov, looking at the lineup and list of MS players @ this yr's U.S. Open and his Finals Rd. opponent, Mr. Ueda, it wasn't really a surprise Mr. Ivanov won. If anything, it proves the list of players @ this yr's U.S. Open wasn't as strong. If Mr. Ivanov say were to beat Sho Sasaki (who won last yr's U.S. Open), now, then it would be a surprise. As for Mr. Ueda, i've seen him played before (also at the U.S. Open) and he only has a few glimpses of talent, imo (no matter what XXZ mentioned).
Errrm what is the debate about?? Comparing Russia, a country where badminton was probably ranked somewhere on the 2nd page of olympic sport actvities until recently, to China where it is practically a national sport. Might as well start to compare the state of CHinese icehockey to Russia I haven't seen the draws yet but the only entry with an outside shot of a medal is obviously their XD pair of Nikolaenko/Sorokina. I don't even know how China came into the picture in this thread in the first place until you know who came up with such a deep comment and again on the state of US Sports. Speedskating has performed endlessly better than badminton for the US and is also a mere afterthought outside of the Olympics as are many more sports that have delivered so much more than a single WC by two imported players ...
Maybe they are coming.. http://www.badmintoncentral.com/forums/showthread.php/101320-Russian-Leaders-Play-Badminton-too http://www.badmintoncentral.com/for...old-Mr-Putin-that-badminton-is-not-very-macho
The only person who seems to be making a comparison between Russia and China seems to be you. The point about speed skating is good, pretty much shows their is probably no hope for badminton in America, no matter what result we bring. I'm personally hoping the Russian can reproduce what they did in women's tennis, but not going to hold my breath though.
You better make sure you don't discredit Ivanov, I wouldn't want him to read this for your sake as he is about 6ft7... Still a great win, the opportunity was there for them to take the doubles as well, but an odd loss it has to be said on Thursday... As for Ueda, looks like a good player, has beaten Rumbaka recently. Maybe he just couldn't deal with Ivanov's height... (Ivanov did almost beat Vittinghus recently but retired injured in the 3rd)
mmm, Mr. Ivanov probably couldn't believe his eyes when the list of MS came out; he knew his chances of winning were very high..what with only arguably Joachim Persson being one of the top challengers?.. And added bonus with him not playing in the 1st round, which gave him a teeny advantage.. Mr. Ueda probably still needs more experience; but i've seen him play before, showed flashes of talent but feel not consistent, imo..
Russia snatches badminton bronze 04 August, 2012 http://www.rt.com/sport/russia-bronze-badminton-london-olympics-sorokina-vislova-858/ Russian badminton duo Valeria Sorokina and Nina Vislova have won the bronze medal in women's doubles at the 2012 London Olympics. ­The Russians topped Alex Bruce and Michele Li of Canada in straight sets in the bronze game at Wembley stadium, 21-9 and 21-10. "I am extremely happy. This is the biggest achievement of my sporting life,” Vislova told the R-Sport news agency. "I probably don’t understand the meaning of this yet. I tried my best for Team Russia, for Russian badminton and for all those, who believed in me. I am very happy.” Both duos advanced to the bronze match after four of their rivals were disqualified. Two pairs from South Korea, and a pair from China and Indonesia each, were accused of trying to lose deliberately in an attempt to manipulate an easier draw for the knockout match. Sorokina and Vislova’s victory is an historic achievement for Russia: the first-ever medal the country has won for badminton. The Russian pair received greetings from the head of the country’s delegation at the London Games, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, who’s known to be quite the badminton fan. "In London, you’ve shown good techniques and skills, adding to the country’s medal account and bringing joy to all the badminton lovers and Team Russia supporters,” the telegram from Medvedev said. Last year, during his term as Russia’s President, Medvedev dedicated a whole video-journal to badminton, speaking on the history of the game and encouraging everybody to play. Meanwhile, China’s Tian Qing and Zhao Yunlei and Japan's Mizuki Fujii and Reika Kakiiwa will battle it out for the gold later today
Mayorova on the outcome of the Olympic cycle and plans for team 20.08.2012 13:11 In Kratovo on the basis of the Russian national team badminton complete collection of junior teams and 17 to 19 years. TCB he spends coaching staff that led the preparation of the core team for the Olympic Games in London. On the results of previous Olympic cycle and plans for a new period of said head coach of Russia Claudia Majorova: All preparations for the Olympic Games was planned and carried out his plan for us. Athletes were ready for the tournament is optimal, and showed that they play in the group stage, where the opponent was very serious, but nevertheless, a number of victories we have won. It should be noted that all members of our team, these Olympic Games were the first - no one had a similar experience. And the Olympic tournament is not a European Championship or even the World Cup - there is much more stressful. Against this background, I believe there has been considerable success because despite all the stress of our athletes have shown the level at which they were ready. We have seen the examples of other sports that many athletes failed the start, but to us it did not happen - the team has played at the highest level that has been achieved to date. Very good game showed our singles Anastasia Prokopenko against the Polish girl Kamila Augustine and Danish Tina Bown. Start with the fact that Camila Nastia never won, and won here. Yes, and Bown - one of the strongest of the world - before the match was not expected that there will be a battle in which Prokopenko lost just a little! In this match Nastia never deviated from the plan worked out for the game. Sometimes it happens that badminton tired, did not start playing as it should, but how convenient that is generally comfortable and the opponent. But then it was not - the plan passed to and fro. She herself had not lost a single shuttle, second only when the enemy created a really complicated situation, laying out at full power. Vladimir Ivanov also had to draw the heavy competition. He met with the player from Taipei, who last met in India has lost. It should be noted that thanks to this victory taypeets and got to the Olympics, so that after the Indian match, he rushed to Volodya, hugged him and almost kissed. But for Volodya was a defeat that left a mark. However, at the Olympic Games themselves, he was able to overcome it and confidently beat his opponent. Ivanov, in connection with its growth, must always play a specific game. If he plays it, then it will be difficult to anyone! And in this match he played his game 100%. Unfortunately, the match with the Korean he could not stand it inside and out - he sometimes succumbed to the game opponents. It is a pity, by the way, that was the first Korean game, when Ivanov has not yet entered the tournament. The original schedule, which was later changed, was different. And if it survived, I think, and the match turned out to be different. As for the game Volodya Ivanov in doubles together with Vanya Sozonova - here we have the predictable problems in advance. The game is a couple is too clear for rival figure - Ivanov has more on the back of the line, Sozonov - at the net. Already all the contestants know it, and pulled out a network of Ivanova. Nevertheless, our players are also prepared for the opponents! On one of the strongest couples of the world - Bo and Mogensonom from Denmark, they met at the European Championships. And there already knew how to play with them, were physically and psychologically ready to perform this miracle! Lacked a little bit, one or two points - most likely because of the lack of extensive experience playing in tournaments of the highest rank, who have full Danes. Somewhere lacked concentration - played into the net, somewhere did not take a pause to this high concentration of repair - hurry, and so on. That is a little bit, because these details have missed the victory! The game with the Chinese - the second pair of our competitors - basically say the same thing. Although the Chinese have always shown a different badminton - not the tactics, and the rate on the concentration and here too, of course lack of experience, ability to distribute the internal forces on such a match is not allowed to win, but played very well, too! Our mixed Alexander Nikolaenko / Valeria Sorokina started very well! They beat the British, who a year ago at this same stage became vice-champion of the world! A pair of very strong, but after such a defeat, it was unable to recover psychologically and lost to the Germans. In our meeting with the same German couple has decided to clean all of psychology. In the end the third installment of our players to forget about all the tactics and played just to throw the shuttle to the other side. Of course, it's the nerves. As for the women's pair Nina Vislova / Valeria Sorokina - they basically played his strength is no better and no worse than we thought. Strong rivals, especially the Chinese, offering a pair of our strength, exhausting pattern of play that endure to the end of the girls could not. In the same game with a lower class of rivals than they are - from South Africa and Canada, mobilize athletes and played very confidently, clearly and well. So, as I said, the whole team performed well, showing nearly the maximum that they can now show. Of course, this result, we walked in small steps. First, create the conditions for the exercise - as much as possible the opportunity to work on the collection, based on the team. As a result, succeeded in laying a solid foundation of training. Yes, it is not yet such that the medals at the Olympics would have been the result of natural, not "happy", but it is very decent. Hence it came to the podium first major international tournaments - especially Super Series. The result of this great work carried out was the fact that all the athletes passed the annual Olympic qualification - this is a very important point! They do not "spread out" before, have not received serious injuries, they have the strength to get through and break into the games in all five categories. And not just passed, and were able to efficiently recover and prepare for the tournament itself. I think - this is the result of our serious professional. Now we have entered a new stage. We need to accumulate a new quality. This is especially true of the training process. To go forward, athletes should be approached to work more professionally. All terms and conditions for this are currently set up - there is a base, the right specialists. Of course, we will think about improving the training process in terms of the separation of training pairs and singles, as it is quite different approaches to things. In a single game needed a large amount may be somewhat emotionally monotonous, but solid work. In pairs - it's emotional outbursts, explosion, instantaneous concentration. In principle, a single skater and greenhouses - they are different people, and the process of working with them must also be a little different. In this way we can achieve a new quality. Of course, one must work with the youth of a new, professional level. Young players should also get used to long hours of work at the training camp. It is desirable that it was a steady base on which the process is year-round, and in principle to this we now come to our activities. It is very important to work to restore the athletes, the same young people, because now we have coaches who will give them serious load, after which they must be able to restore the quality. A serious and professional attitude should be the players to work on the basis of the team. The athlete must arrive at the base of very high quality home prepared to withstand what he will be here suggested, it is very serious, concentrated work on the collection - no distractions. Only those who understand that badminton - his profession, the main business of life, can succeed here. Neither the study nor the personal affairs of any other circumstances should not distract the athlete from his main work - otherwise the result will not be. Now we are on the basis of collection of junior teams and 17 to 19 years. This collection was planned before the Olympics and actually opens up a new Olympic cycle. There are two age groups, they have slightly different objectives. The eldest is preparing for an international youth tournament in Ramenskoye and its main launch - the primacy of Russia, who was coming. The youngest - also partly prepared for the international tournament, but most importantly - met with the work of the team. We need to show them - what team that there would be requested to show a new, modern equipment, to explain what they need to be prepared. It is pleasant to note that all young athletes who are now in the collection, a very high motivation. They want very trying, which is certainly nice, and manage performance of work. Of course, we will try to keep it. This enthusiasm, competition, will be transferred to the adult team, and then the youth will receive the accumulated experience. I think that for about two years of intensive, professional work of our best athletes 94-95 years of birth would be a force to reach the level of our current first team. These opportunities will be available to them, as well as the necessary attention from the coaches. Of course, our first part will be involved in this process - those who are motivated to improve further, ready to go forward. The participation of our Olympians in working with young people is important. Not only in training, even just in conversation, dialogue, they convey the energy that got in the game. The success of the games are very elated our young people, and they asked many questions about the Olympics coaches. This is - a very good background for their development, I hope it will spur a new generation to great accomplishments. Source [http://www.badm.ru/news/badminton/1766]
The Russians are coming, the signs are there. With President Putin and Premier Medvedev setting the example by taking up recreational badminton, how not to?
The schools program is set to begin in September so at least the talent pool should increase but first and foremost it is still viewed as an activity with social benefits not 5 potential gold medals at the Olympics
if the government put in enough effort they will do it...even USA...but i reckon badminton is more popular in russia than USA
DEN's outstanding achievement is disproportionate to her small population, all the more amazing;not impossible at all for her to become a badminton superpower rivalling CHN one day. You just need to have enough people taking up the sport seriously, not necessarily in proportion to population size. With this,other factors are even more important viz. resources(mainly funding),quality coaches,level of competition,advance sports science,etc. As far as all these are concerned, I believe there are at least 5 to 10 countries with the potential and ability to do it, what they lack which I believe tilts the balance in CHN's favour for supremacy are, if I may say so, Tang Xianhu, Lin Dan and Li Yongbo, like it or not.
