Why is China so Dominant in Badminton?

[chibe_K]

From the prospective of somone who never live in China before, my theory says mainly two reasons,

1) China has massive pool of players and as a results able to maintain the level of competitiveness that no other badminton nations (Den,Mal,Ind,Kor) are able to match. The players have to constantly show results to survive LYB.
2) LYB. Not my favorite coach but have to say team China's success and LYB is not purely conincidential, there must be a corelation there. The matter of fact is since LYB's became a coach, team China has been showing lighting speed improvement year after year. You can not talk about LD alone without adding LYB to the conversation.

 

[kwun]

a few factors TOGETHER makes it possible.

- a huge pool of potential candidates
- a culture for parents to allow children excel in sports, and not just studies
- a system to discover and cultivate talents all the way from the grass root to the national level
- a culture to see badminton as a real sport
- a government that supports sports (monetarily and others)
- a working national team and organization that do the right thing to train potential players
- a set of very talented and accomplished coaches

some of these factors do exist in other countries, but China is probably the only one who has ALL those factors. and that greatly increases the probability of success in the international stage.

 

[LazyBuddy]

a few factors TOGETHER makes it possible.

- a huge pool of potential candidates
- a culture for parents to allow children excel in sports, and not just studies
- a system to discover and cultivate talents all the way from the grass root to the national level
- a culture to see badminton as a real sport
- a government that supports sports (monetarily and others)
- a working national team and organization that do the right thing to train potential players
- a set of very talented and accomplished coaches

some of these factors do exist in other countries, but China is probably the only one who has ALL those factors. and that greatly increases the probability of success in the international stage.

Well said.

I do want to add the asian genes (which excel in agility rather than power) fit for sports like badminton, table tennis, diving, gymnastics a lot of better than basketball, football, etc.

 

[AlanY]

a few factors TOGETHER makes it possible.

- a huge pool of potential candidates
- a culture for parents to allow children excel in sports, and not just studies
- a system to discover and cultivate talents all the way from the grass root to the national level
- a culture to see badminton as a real sport
- a government that supports sports (monetarily and others)
- a working national team and organization that do the right thing to train potential players
- a set of very talented and accomplished coaches

some of these factors do exist in other countries, but China is probably the only one who has ALL those factors. and that greatly increases the probability of success in the international stage.

for the youngsters they also have a lots of champions/winners to look up to as well.

 

[kwun]

Well said.

I do want to add the asian genes (which excel in agility rather than power) fit for sports like badminton, table tennis, diving, gymnastics a lot of better than basketball, football, etc.

i don't agree. there are tons of really good badminton players from Europe and other non-asian countries too. in fact, if you give all the above factor listed by me, and then just give those factor to another non-Asian country, i think the players developed will be competitive if not more so than Asians.

 

[julianng]

Put it this way.... here is a simple analogy.

If LCW was born in CHN , he would be instantly demotivated to play badminton just because of the sheer competition and number of badminton talents in CHN.

If LCW played professional badminton in CHN from young, his career wouldn't last more than 5 years MAXIMUM !

He would just be another Wang Zhengming, Du Pengyu, Bao Chunlai, backup player or another pawn for LYB to play with.

Also if LCW played SS tournaments for CHN, the coach would probably ask him to give walkover to LD all the time because of team tactics and for the greater good of CHN.

That's how competitive badminton is in CHN.

 

[DinkAlot]

Panda does not like typing these types of posts but this is one of those times we need better clarification:

The post below, no offense to the Original Poster (OP) is not correct. It is, what's that science called? When you mistake one thing to lead to a conclusion of something possibly completely different. It's incorrect deductive knowledge of sorts.

You cannot say, for a fact (or "no doubt" in this case), Bolt is going to be better ("more successful") than LD in badminton because he's 5% faster given the same training. It is possible but not a fact.

There are too many other factors other than speed such as:
1) Timing
2) Hand-eye coordination
3) Transitional speed, LD will transition faster because he has less wing span and weight to move.
4) Mental toughness
5) Synergy: a combination all the assets to make Lin Dan...Lin Dan

We won't count footwork, strategy, fitness as the OP mentioned if Bolt were to train like LD. We will say that's comparable for argument's sake.

Now if the OP said Bolt had comparably trained badminton skills, timing, coordination, transitional speed, mental toughness and synergy to LD and Bolt was 5% faster, then it would be more likely he could beat LD in a match but again, that doesn't necessarily translate into being a more successful badminton career.

Conclusion: just because you are the best at one thing, doesn't mean you will be the best or better at something else given you have one (or more) advantage(s) (in this case speed) over others. It can greatly benefit you but it's definitely not a sure thing.

Thanks for listening, Panda out.



Side bar:

Just like this example, ceteris paribus (all else being equal) Bolt isn't the fastest 100 meter sprinter because he has the most fast twitch muscles. It's the synergy/combination of his fast twitch muscles combined with his height, weight, leg/wingspan, technique, and other factors.

In fact, it was stated most sprinters take 44 steps to complete the 100meters while Bolt only takes 41. Bolt gets greater extension, does less work to get to the same 100 meters.

Anyway, just a bit of clarification, thanks.

OK, not sure that was clear but that's all this Panda's gonna type.

Genes matter. Scientist have isolated a gene that's specific to the Jamaican population (5%) of the island have this gene where their muscles contract faster, thus producing faster sprinters.

If Bolt grew up in China and was picked to train like Lin Dan, I have no doubt he will be more successful simply put. Genetically, he will be 5% faster.

 

[julianng]

Bolt wouldn't be that good in badminton because in badminton you need high agility, fine, subtle and deft touches which Bolt lacks. Sure he can run a straight race the fastest but he would be the slowest in changing directions.....

 

[badders2006]

Put it this way.... here is a simple analogy.

If LCW was born in CHN , he would be instantly demotivated to play badminton just because of the sheer competition and number of badminton talents in CHN.

If LCW played professional badminton in CHN from young, his career wouldn't last more than 5 years MAXIMUM !

He would just be another Wang Zhengming, Du Pengyu, Bao Chunlai, backup player or another pawn for LYB to play with.

Also if LCW played SS tournaments for CHN, the coach would probably ask him to give walkover to LD all the time because of team tactics and for the greater good of CHN.

That's how competitive badminton is in CHN.

not sure I agree with that.

if LCW played for China right now, he would clearly be in the top two for China. He is more than a mere pawn, in that he is clearly a superior player to WZM, Du Pengyu, Chen Jin, Bao Chunlai etc. Please don't bring LCW down to that level.

LCW is a very special player of a calibre that appears perhaps once every generation. A bit like Taufik at his prime.

Li Yong Bo himself has said that LCW is just unlucky to born in the same era as Lin Dan, who just happens to be the greatest of all time.

 

[rahuldarga]

Im sure players from all over the world practice hard, but China is always winning. Is there something special about their diet, mentality, or even genes? Does anyone have any theories?

I guess the link below will answer your question. I dont know if you can call it good or bad, but it certainly creates one tough athlete. Its like real life 'Hunger Games' the toughest one will survive and become a champion. The below is mostly show how gymnasts are made but you can get some idea how intense their training system is and how early they start. I dont think badminton training is as tough as gymnastics but it has same amount grilling. All of the Chinese athletes you see in the Olympics have started training atleast from the age of 5 or 6. Yes its gruesome to look at. That's how China dominates!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2182127/How-China-trains-children-win-gold--standing-girls-legs-young-boys-hang-bars.html

 

[fnaibaf]

- a culture to see badminton as a real sport

Abit of simplification and elaboration:
If you draw a distinction between India and China which arguably has all other factors Kwun has stated par "talented coaches" I think the above hails true. And if this is true, then all the other factors collapse because from a child to a nation, noone knows what is badminton.


For all I know I could have been the worlds greatest curler! Crud. Shoulda bought me an ice field instead of a badminton racquet.

 

[K_a_d_e]

when i saw those picture i could clearly understand why they are so good in many kind of sport not just badminton like Gymnastic, Diving, Table tenis and other sport

 

[XtC-604]

You know they used to say, a picture is worth a thousand words.
But i don't think so anymore in the 21st century. Pictures are taken at opportune moments and or edited to fit the story they are trying to write. I bet if you asked any of those children, they'd say "yes its tiring and sometimes it hurts, but i enjoy being here and doing what i love." or something along those lines.

 

[Duke Chen]

.
IMHO, the Thing (Tang Xianhu) is the main reason for CHN being the top country at Badminton.
.

this. PBSI is a moraan to let him go for f*ck's sake

 

[LazyBuddy]

i don't agree. there are tons of really good badminton players from Europe and other non-asian countries too. in fact, if you give all the above factor listed by me, and then just give those factor to another non-Asian country, i think the players developed will be competitive if not more so than Asians.

Sure, all race will have its amazing player. However, I still believe my statement, but that's also why I ranked it as the last below all yours. We have to admit the "nature" do play a good part in the outcome. Of course, it's not absolute, and it will not prevent any race to produce a few "good player" here or there. However, if you are referring a dominate percentage of "great players", then sadly, it is a fact.

Put this way, you can give the best coach, best system, etc to asian nations. It's hardly they will come out with a significant amount of sprinter like Bolt, or a great American football team. They are simply not built to that way, at least, not a significant percentage.

 

[LazyBuddy]

The picture simply tells one thing: success is like a flower, being watered by tears and sweat...

 

[XtC-604]

Sure, all race will have its amazing player. However, I still believe my statement, but that's also why I ranked it as the last below all yours. We have to admit the "nature" do play a good part in the outcome. Of course, it's not absolute, and it will not prevent any race to produce a few "good player" here or there. However, if you are referring a dominate percentage of "great players", then sadly, it is a fact.

Put this way, you can give the best coach, best system, etc to asian nations. It's hardly they will come out with a significant amount of sprinter like Bolt, or a great American football team. They are simply not built to that way, at least, not a significant percentage.

Actually with China or India there is hope. Such a massive pool of talent available.

 

[kelana]

u r wrong. can usain bolt become good badminton player in china? yes, definitely bcos he has athlete body, but can he become a legend like lin dan?
cannot imagine so.

and it is also not true that popular sports produce world-class champions.
look at boleh-land. their most famous sport is football and badminton.

but football they can get beaten by philippines (basketball). and in badminton, the thais are starting to overtake them.
LOL

i am quite curious about this newly created internet persona "superdick", at the very first, what's a nick of choice...

just counting five yet the words are already so sharp... just wonder it's a reborn of whom???

[psstttt i can guess but i won't tell] just feel funny, indeed i've ALOL

 

[hcyong]

Structured coaching. Chinese kids are drilled important basic skills (esp. footwork) before they even hold a racquet. Other countries' kids probably started playing for fun, and when they developed into good players, some bad habits already took root.

 

[pjswift]

Actually, the No. 1 factor is funding.