GC seems to agree with you when she says the 20-yr-old Bao Yixin is going to be a big,big star in the future. But I'm not sure she can match Gao Ling who is a hard act to follow.
Is Bao's partnership with Tian Qing better than with Zhong Qianxin who is put out of action temporarily by injury (still in Germany for treatment?)?
Matsutomo... not very useful at the backcourt, but lethal at the front. should play more mixed doubles.
As you say, Sony has a slim chance of winning, but you gave a 47% winning percentage for Sony. 10% is more suitable to define your "slim chance" Even if a poll is held, I'm pretty sure the vast majority of BCers (around 80-90%) will choose LCW to win. In fact, I do not think anyone other than LD and CL could win over LCW at the moment, especially in LCW's ground.
I think this partnership is just temporary, to help give Bao Yixin some more experience. Tian Qing will still play with Zhao Yunlei in the big tournaments (World, Sudirman). LYB is probably trying really hard to find Bao a suitable partner right now. Probably she will go back to playing with Zhong Qianxin or play with Tang Jin Hua. None of the girls have as much power as WXL or TQ, so it may be hard to find a good partner for Bao Yixin.
it is a good exercise for them to mix up a little bit. to the point where they can interchange partner at will, kinda like the Indonesian MD players in the early 2000's. Tony / Candra / Halim / Sigit can form many pairings and still work well together.
