Chance for the young shuttlers to steal the show from the oldies
News 9:47 AM
THE old hands may be out in full force but a bunch of younger stars will be out to steal the show in the Thomas-Uber Cup Finals.
The likes of South Korea's Lee Hyun-il, Malaysia's Wong Choong Hann and even Kenneth Jonassen of Denmark have been asked to donned national colours again to strengthen their team's challenge in the men's competition.
Malaysian badminton fans are familiar with these veterans but they can also look forward to some exciting play from the next generation of world-beaters, among them Kenichi Tago (Japan), Chen Long (China) and Jan O Jorgensen (Denmark) who are set to play bigger roles for their teams in the Thomas Cup Finals.
Go slow: China's Zhang Ning (top) helping Wang Shixian do a stretching exercise during a training session Thursday. After lying low for some time due to injuries and poor physical condition, a more determined Tago garnered attention again with his dynamic performances in the All-England two months ago.
The 20-year-old Japanese had won the Asian junior title four years ago but had never really made a big impact at the senior level until his exploits in Birmingham.
The unseeded Tago became the first Japanese to reach the All-England final in 44 years after beating three higher ranked players – Nguyen Tien Minh (Vietnam), Joachim Persson (Denmark) and third seed Chen Jin (China).
Tago was beaten 19-21, 19-21 by world No. 1 Lee Chong Wei in the final but he has earned the respect of his peers.
Former doubles legend Park Joo-bong, who is now in charge of the Japanese team, said that the difference between the Tago of the present time and four years ago was his improved level of fitness.
“He had the skills coming into the national team since winning the Asian junior title but could not run the pace in training,” said the Korean at the All-England.
“A lot of emphasis was given on his physical training after he recovered from his injuries to make him faster and stronger on court. Tago is highly disciplined and mentally a stronger player now.”
Tago is the top ranked Japanese and he will be an instant star if he turns the tables on Chong Wei in a group tie against Malaysia.
Chen Long, a finalist at the Swiss and German Opens this year, has the potential to grab the limelight too in his Thomas Cup debut for China.
The former world and Asian junior champion is in the reserve singles slot in the Chinese team but he may well be an automatic first choice player if he were in any other side.
Chen Long, who is coached by 2000 Sydney Olympic gold medallist Ji Xinpeng, is seen by many as the successor to Lin Dan. Ironically, he also comes from the same Fujian province as Lin Dan.
Another young shuttler with the potential to grab the limelight is Jorgensen, who made the world sit up and take notice when he reached the China Open final last year.
The 22-year-old Dane is his country's answer as to who could replace Peter-Gade Christensen when he cemented his reputation by ending the long reign of his illustrious team-mate to lift the Copenhagen Masters title last December.
“Being in the Thomas Cup team itself is a big boost to my badminton career. It's a team event and my country and team-mates will be counting on me to deliver. I certainly don't want to let them down,” said Jorgensen.
Tago, Chen Long and Jorgensen are already relatively familiar to badminton followers but there is another youngster to watch out for – Dyonisius Hayom Rumbaka, currently the world No. 26 and the fourth ranked Indonesian behind Taufik Hidayat, Sony Dwi Kuncoro and Simon Santoso. Dyonisius took Chen Jin to three tough games in the first round of the All-England.
The Uber Cup stage will also not be short of exciting young talent.
The likes of Wang Yihan and Wang Shixian capped an amazing rise to the top ranks of world badminton in less than three years and are part of the rebuilding process of the Chinese women's team after the retirements of Zhang Ning and Xie Xingfang.
Yihan, who was playing on the junior stage three years ago, is now the world No. 1 after winning a string of Open titles since last year.
Shixian earned her first Open title in the Malaysia Open Grand Prix Gold in Johor Baru last year and has since gone on to claim three Super Series titles in Switzerland, South Korea and China.
It is for this reason that the world No. 4 got the nod over former world junior champion Wang Lin in the Chinese team despite being ranked lower.
The likes of South Korea's Lee Hyun-il, Malaysia's Wong Choong Hann and even Kenneth Jonassen of Denmark have been asked to donned national colours again to strengthen their team's challenge in the men's competition.
Malaysian badminton fans are familiar with these veterans but they can also look forward to some exciting play from the next generation of world-beaters, among them Kenichi Tago (Japan), Chen Long (China) and Jan O Jorgensen (Denmark) who are set to play bigger roles for their teams in the Thomas Cup Finals.
Go slow: China's Zhang Ning (top) helping Wang Shixian do a stretching exercise during a training session Thursday. The 20-year-old Japanese had won the Asian junior title four years ago but had never really made a big impact at the senior level until his exploits in Birmingham.
The unseeded Tago became the first Japanese to reach the All-England final in 44 years after beating three higher ranked players – Nguyen Tien Minh (Vietnam), Joachim Persson (Denmark) and third seed Chen Jin (China).
Tago was beaten 19-21, 19-21 by world No. 1 Lee Chong Wei in the final but he has earned the respect of his peers.
Former doubles legend Park Joo-bong, who is now in charge of the Japanese team, said that the difference between the Tago of the present time and four years ago was his improved level of fitness.
“A lot of emphasis was given on his physical training after he recovered from his injuries to make him faster and stronger on court. Tago is highly disciplined and mentally a stronger player now.”
Tago is the top ranked Japanese and he will be an instant star if he turns the tables on Chong Wei in a group tie against Malaysia.
Chen Long, a finalist at the Swiss and German Opens this year, has the potential to grab the limelight too in his Thomas Cup debut for China.
The former world and Asian junior champion is in the reserve singles slot in the Chinese team but he may well be an automatic first choice player if he were in any other side.
Chen Long, who is coached by 2000 Sydney Olympic gold medallist Ji Xinpeng, is seen by many as the successor to Lin Dan. Ironically, he also comes from the same Fujian province as Lin Dan.
Another young shuttler with the potential to grab the limelight is Jorgensen, who made the world sit up and take notice when he reached the China Open final last year.
The 22-year-old Dane is his country's answer as to who could replace Peter-Gade Christensen when he cemented his reputation by ending the long reign of his illustrious team-mate to lift the Copenhagen Masters title last December.
“Being in the Thomas Cup team itself is a big boost to my badminton career. It's a team event and my country and team-mates will be counting on me to deliver. I certainly don't want to let them down,” said Jorgensen.
Tago, Chen Long and Jorgensen are already relatively familiar to badminton followers but there is another youngster to watch out for – Dyonisius Hayom Rumbaka, currently the world No. 26 and the fourth ranked Indonesian behind Taufik Hidayat, Sony Dwi Kuncoro and Simon Santoso. Dyonisius took Chen Jin to three tough games in the first round of the All-England.
The Uber Cup stage will also not be short of exciting young talent.
The likes of Wang Yihan and Wang Shixian capped an amazing rise to the top ranks of world badminton in less than three years and are part of the rebuilding process of the Chinese women's team after the retirements of Zhang Ning and Xie Xingfang.
Yihan, who was playing on the junior stage three years ago, is now the world No. 1 after winning a string of Open titles since last year.
Shixian earned her first Open title in the Malaysia Open Grand Prix Gold in Johor Baru last year and has since gone on to claim three Super Series titles in Switzerland, South Korea and China.
It is for this reason that the world No. 4 got the nod over former world junior champion Wang Lin in the Chinese team despite being ranked lower.
Posted by Lucas Liau
on 9:47 AM.
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