hey guys i recently read this from thestar:
Chen’s comeback bad for China, says coach Yongbo
BEIJING: China badminton coach Li Yongbo said Chen Hong’s comeback to competition after retiring for only two months was not good for the national team.
World No.5 Chen Hong, who quit the national team after being omitted from the talent-rich squad for last December’s Asian Games, returned to action this week as a free player at the Asian Badminton Championships (ABC) in Malaysia.
Chen Hong, competing as a free agent outside the national team – paying his own tour expenses but keeping all of his winnings – was “absolutely not a good thing for the national team”, Yongbo told yesterday’s Beijing Youth Daily.
“When Chen Hong first brought up his retirement, he was still a top player, and it wasn’t the case that he had no chance of competing at next year’s Olympics,” Yongbo said.
The coaching staff had worked hard to keep him, Yongbo said, but Chen Hong had insisted.
“In the end, we approved his retirement out of respect for his wishes. But now he is playing under his own name. As far as we’re concerned, this is, of course, not a good thing.
Chen Hong, who recently secured a sponsorship with a Chinese clothing company, yesterday broke through to the semi-finals at the on-going ABC meet in Johor Baru.
He beat Japan’s Yousuke Nakanishi 21-15, 12-21, 21-16.
China’s paternal sport administrations take a dim view of athletes perceived to have shunned national team goals in the pursuit of personal gain.
Last month, Olympic diving champion Tian Liang retired after being banished from the national team for several years for taking part in too many commercial activities. – Reuters
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Personally I believe Chen Hong has the right to play as an individual 'enterprise', but maybe thats because I come from a democratic country...not a communist one like China where it isnt exactly good to place yourself before the common goals of the team. As a badminton fan I really couldn't care less about the politics involved with national sports bodies, as long as skilled players such as Chen continue playing im happy
What is everyone elses view this matter?
Chen’s comeback bad for China, says coach Yongbo
BEIJING: China badminton coach Li Yongbo said Chen Hong’s comeback to competition after retiring for only two months was not good for the national team.
World No.5 Chen Hong, who quit the national team after being omitted from the talent-rich squad for last December’s Asian Games, returned to action this week as a free player at the Asian Badminton Championships (ABC) in Malaysia.
Chen Hong, competing as a free agent outside the national team – paying his own tour expenses but keeping all of his winnings – was “absolutely not a good thing for the national team”, Yongbo told yesterday’s Beijing Youth Daily.
“When Chen Hong first brought up his retirement, he was still a top player, and it wasn’t the case that he had no chance of competing at next year’s Olympics,” Yongbo said.
The coaching staff had worked hard to keep him, Yongbo said, but Chen Hong had insisted.
“In the end, we approved his retirement out of respect for his wishes. But now he is playing under his own name. As far as we’re concerned, this is, of course, not a good thing.
Chen Hong, who recently secured a sponsorship with a Chinese clothing company, yesterday broke through to the semi-finals at the on-going ABC meet in Johor Baru.
He beat Japan’s Yousuke Nakanishi 21-15, 12-21, 21-16.
China’s paternal sport administrations take a dim view of athletes perceived to have shunned national team goals in the pursuit of personal gain.
Last month, Olympic diving champion Tian Liang retired after being banished from the national team for several years for taking part in too many commercial activities. – Reuters
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Personally I believe Chen Hong has the right to play as an individual 'enterprise', but maybe thats because I come from a democratic country...not a communist one like China where it isnt exactly good to place yourself before the common goals of the team. As a badminton fan I really couldn't care less about the politics involved with national sports bodies, as long as skilled players such as Chen continue playing im happy

What is everyone elses view this matter?