KUNSHAN, East China, Oct. 9 (Xinhuanet) -- As predicted, Jiangsu and Guangdong, the two all-mighty giants in Chinese men¡¯s badminton team event, made the final clash after Saturday¡¯s semifinals, shutting out title-lusting Fujian and dark horse China¡¯s Hong Kong respectively.
While some teams complained about their shortage of enough top-class shuttlers, Jiangsu, the most hopeful favorites, was never haunted by talents famine, boasting current world and Olympic champions Zhang Jun, Cai Yun and world junior champion Chen Jin.
The defending champion can also confide in their new blood, including Qiu yanbo, Li Yu and Xu Chen, who made great contributions in Jiangsu¡¯s consecutivewinning streak and already made themselves hopefuls for Chinese future badminton and even 2008 Beijing Olympics.
These talents are further strengthened by Liu Yong and Sun Jun,ex-world champions, who set up good examples for the young with their unremitting efforts,and their experience could help at the crucial moment.
"Liu and Sun bring a kinglike vigour and invincible fight whichencourage juniors in the team," said 19-year-old Chen Jin, two-time world junior champion.
But Guangdong, runners-up of the same event at the last Games, losing to Jiangsu in the final four years ago, have their own ace at hands. Their doubles players, Chen Qiqiu/Fu Haifeng and Yu Jinhao/Zhu Lihua, are the most powrful weapons, which could be a perfect match with their Jiangsu counterparts, Cai Yun/Xu Chen(or Zhang Jun) and Liu Yong/Sun Jun. If Guangdong wish to snatch their title back, they will have to take both of the two doubles matches as they are outshone in singles by Jiangsu.
Zhu Weilun and Wu Yunyong, Guangdong¡¯s top two shuttlers, who ranked 118 together on the latest IBF rankings, are to succumb to their latercomers Chen Jin and Li Yu, much younger but given more chances to participate in the international events in the Chinese badminton team since last year due to the nation¡¯s new-star making policy. Chen Jin, ranked 26 in the world and with best hope to take the place of much older Chen Hongin the national team, especially assured the hosts of the defending prospects.
Li Yu, who overcame higher ranked Xia Xuanze, the 2003 world champion, in the group stage while meeting Zhejiang, can also trusted at the crucial time. The rising star ranked higher than Zhu and Wu too.
The two will fight for gold on Monday, with bronze already pocketed by Fujian and China¡¯s Hong Kong finishing fourth.
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