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All England Badminton: The Chinese Magic!
BY Dr. ABDUL RUFF
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[Doubles of all varieties in Tennis and Badminton are a fundamental anomaly that requires early correction to remove these categories from both Tennis and badminton. While in Badminton doubles have to be from same nation, in Tennis anybody from anywhere can pick a partner, both male and female, from any fish market in the world in order to earn some quick money]
China, the Asia’s economic-nuclear superpower and top sport personnel, is also the topper in Badminton too. China showcased its brilliance in badminton at the just concluded Yonex All England Open Badminton Championships in Birmingham (06-11March) as the titles of both men and women were won by the Chinese aces.
Lin Dan of China won his fifth All England title on 11 Feb when world number one Lee Chong Wei had to retire with a shoulder injury that had emerged over the last 24 hours. Chinese pin-up Lin Dan won his fifth All England men's singles title against Lee Chong Wei, but only after his chief rival from Malaysia was forced to retire with a shoulder injury in Birmingham. The score stood at 21-19 6-2 to Lin when the Malaysian had to call it a day.
The Malaysian Datuk was perhaps the clear favorite for a third successive All England title, a feat no men's singles player had achieved since Rudy Hartono, the Indonesian master of 38 years ago. Malaysian Lee Chong Wei's record bid thwarted by injury as Lin Dan wins fifth title. There was to be no record, no congratulatory phone call from the Malaysian prime minister.
There had been some doubt whether Chong Wei would even start the final but he appeared on time to the delight of a near capacity 8,000 crowd at the National Indoor Arena. But he needed treatment 15 minutes into the match when trailing 15-12 and again at the break after the first game. Then it soon became clear early in the second set he could not carry on and the two men shook hands after 31 minutes.
Both defended with remarkable agility - which the packed Birmingham crowd had earlier witnessed to superb effect in a men's doubles thriller - while their speed and net play made sure of a 28th meeting. Lin has now prevailed in 19 of those encounters. Despite their obvious ferocity on court, a unique bond exists between these two players off it, summed up when the two swapped shirts "on the spur of the moment" over the net, to the delight of the thousands of spectators and home watchers.
Chong Wei, who lost out to his rival in a thrilling World Championships final at Wembley last summer, has had the measure of his opponent in recent months on the world tour. Lin, though, wins the pivotal matches when it matters. Some will now see Chong Wei's defeat as another psychological dagger ahead of an anticipated Olympic final date later this summer. Lin had said before the final that he didn't care who won the showdown everyone was hoping for. But the world and Olympic champion clearly showed compassion when the world No 1 offered his hand when 21-19 and 6-2 down in the second game. "We know each other very well," said a jubilant Lin. "We have been playing together since we were juniors. He has made my career more successful. It is presumed that Chong Wei will retire after the Olympics.
Lin, the Olympic and world champion, told the crowd: "I hope the injury does not affect him too much and we can meet at the Olympics again."
China’s Li Xuerui is the woman champion. When Li Xuerui, world’s 7th, sent India’s Sainia packing from All-England Open Badminton Championships 2012 in the quarter finals, it did not exactly signal she would eventually clinch the title too. Li Xuerui has made it back-to-back tournament victories when she followed up her Yonex German Open win with a big one – the Yonex All England Open. The 21-year-old from China upset world champion and top seeded compatriot Wang Yihan in straight games to win her first OSIM BWF World Superseries Premier tournament. Her 21-13, 21-19, victory was her first in five meetings against the 2009 All England winner and made up for losing the 2010 French Open final to her teammate.
Li Xuerui rose to a career high No. 5 after her win in Germany last Sunday is looking forward to reach further the ladder. Li Xuerui said “This is my greatest win and it is very important to me. It’s a famous title, and different from the other Super Series”.
Indeed, Li Xuerui’s quarter-final victory over Sainia could the symbolic passing of the torch as China once again flexed their muscle in the women’s category, winning the women’s title for the eighth time in 10 years and 20th in 31 attempts. Earlier, Sainia couldn't simply match Li as she failed to retrieve quite a few shots in the forecourt and most of her smashes went into the net. Li, on the contrary, played an aggressive game and her strokes were more accurate.The Chinese was more accurate and deceptive as she moved ahead. Li had her nose ahead at 19-17 and with Saina hitting out once again; the Chinese went up 20-17 for match-point. Pushed to the wall, Sainia fell, and the Chinese wrested control and led 22-21 and won a long rally to eventually seal the match. Li is now a power.
Tontowi Ahmad-Liliyana Natsir ended 33 years of hurt as they won the men’s mixed doubles crown. The women’s doubles by ian Qing-Zhao Yunlei have the same record over 31 years and Tian Qing-Zhao Yunlei added their names to the illustrious list of winners by stunning top seeds and world champions Wang Xiaoli-Yu Yang in straight games.
However, doubles of all varieties in Tennis and Badminton are a fundamental anomaly that requires early correction to remove these categories from both Tennis and badminton. While in Badminton doubles have to be from same nation, in Tennis anybody from anywhere can pick a partner, both male and female, from any fish market in the world in order to earn some quick money. .
Rise of the Chines in badminton has been phenomenon. Both Chinese singles winners hope to clinch the Olympic medals. The Malaysian Lee Chong Wei an Olympics hopeful will now make sure of a full recovery before a final tilt at the biggest accolade.
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