Kicking off the new 2016 forums with a poll.
China made history in the 2012 Olympics in London, bagging all 5 gold medals from Lin Dan, Li Xuerui, Cai Yun / Fu Haifeng, Tian Qing / Zhao Yunlei, Zhang Nan / Zhao Yunlei.
4 years is a long time and a lot has changed. Lin Dan isn't the player he used to be, Chen Long is struggling to take his place, and Lee Chong Wei doesn't seem to be slowing down.
WS players are plague by injuries and form. But most importantly the rest of the world has grown stronger and stronger.
MD has declined back to the old days with just occasional flahes instead of continued strength like we saw from Cai/Fu.
WD is still strong but now seeing new contenders like the world number pair of Matsutomo/Takahashi.
XD is anchored by defending champion Zhang Nan / Zhao Yunlei who has a good chance of retaining the title. But as always, nothing is a certainty in the Olympics.
So how many gold medals will China win this time in Rio?
China made history in the 2012 Olympics in London, bagging all 5 gold medals from Lin Dan, Li Xuerui, Cai Yun / Fu Haifeng, Tian Qing / Zhao Yunlei, Zhang Nan / Zhao Yunlei.
4 years is a long time and a lot has changed. Lin Dan isn't the player he used to be, Chen Long is struggling to take his place, and Lee Chong Wei doesn't seem to be slowing down.
WS players are plague by injuries and form. But most importantly the rest of the world has grown stronger and stronger.
MD has declined back to the old days with just occasional flahes instead of continued strength like we saw from Cai/Fu.
WD is still strong but now seeing new contenders like the world number pair of Matsutomo/Takahashi.
XD is anchored by defending champion Zhang Nan / Zhao Yunlei who has a good chance of retaining the title. But as always, nothing is a certainty in the Olympics.
So how many gold medals will China win this time in Rio?