I just watched the first game of the final (of the Swiss open) and I must say I found He's footwork and body movement awkward and lacking to a serious degree in grace. I wonder how she can get to the final and win it.
Frankly it's a long shot for He Bingjiao to aim for Rio, not only is time pressing, there are so few OG qualification tournaments left, for Li Yongbo and coaches team to select her last minute for one of the two Olympic spots instead of any of her senior compatriots, say she manages to barely ease into the top 16 by the OG cut-off date (May 1st), is really pushing it unless she is ranked at least No.2 if not No.1 in the CHN WS camp in which case LYB et al can cite LXR's precedent in London 2012. Otherwise, I simply don't see how LYB can get away with it without upsetting the esprit de corps of Team CHN and causing an uproar, no matter how brave and defiant he is, the price he has to pay may force him to back down for the sake of team spirit, camaraderie, unity and harmony in Team CHN.
Let's not forget, HBJ is only 19 years old, time is on her side, why be in such a hurry to push her to the front, her success in Rio is not guaranteed. All she has going for her is youthful exuberance and perhaps sudden swift rise to stardom in the face of undenable relative inexperience and being untested on the big occasions, her extraordinary performance at the recent Asian Team Championships notwithstanding. Why take such a big risk prematurely and unnecessarily, on top of the likelihood of hurting quite a few CHN WS prospects (who knows, the affected Olympic candidates might even decide to end their careers in protest)?
That's not to say it's impossible, just highly improbable unless unforeseen, exceptional circumstances arise in her favour, strongly. I shan't speculate what they might be, simply far-fetched in my opinion.
LXR, prior to the Olympics in London, had a string of victory that He Bj is far, very far, from having right now.
Li Xuerui was 21 years of age when she launched her fairy tale run to Olympic gold in London 2012, merely two years after she transitioned from junior to senior level.LXR has proved that it is possible 4 years ago. At the time she was 19 too when she started making the run to London 2012.
A rare phenomenon of such exceptionalism defies the odds and overturns conventional thinking, just He Bingjiao's stocky build already raises a few eyebrows, let alone her footwork, wrist work, and what have you. I'm waiting with bated breath to see if she'll start reaching the summit a la Li Xuerui in 2012.
By the way, didn't Akane Yamaguchi's similar build, and she's even shorter, give us a taste of what's possible? Isn't athletic prowess and extraordinary achievements often about how one pushes one's limits and overcomes one's shortcomings in the manner of what one lacks one makes up for in other ways? History has furnished us several examples in almost every field for which many of us can name someone or other we know of, such as Beethoven who composed some of his greatest masterpieces when deaf, Deng Yaping who overcame her small stature (1.5m) to become one the greatest players in the history of table tennis, and so on and so forth.
My friend, you forgot to mention the stocky Maradona and the bandy-legged Brazilian soccer legend, Garrincha, whose left leg was 6 cm shorter than his right one. Most of us will know about Maradona. As for Garrincha here is a link if you like soccer.
http://www.biography.com/people/garrincha-21305801
If only HBJ had beaten WYH in the AE she would have had a shot at NO and may be CM as well. As it is we just don't know where she stands against these two players. I think LYB should just keep her for the next Asian Games and Tokyo 2020.
The badminton gods must have heard my prayers and reacted quite quickly - look who the draw has put together in the first round of the Singapore Open '16:...
And what came to my mind: I want to see her play against Tai Tzu Ying! I suppose it's close to impossible to get more entertainment from a badminton match.![]()
And behold... He "Chubby Cheeks" Bingjiao has defeated the mighty Tai "Killer Abs" Tzu Ying:The badminton gods must have heard my prayers and reacted quite quickly - look who the draw has put together in the first round of the Singapore Open '16:
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