News

The Beijing Olympics are here and it is time for us to think about the up coming event with the world's top players gathering together for a chance at winning the most prestigious prize - The Gold Medal. In this article, I will go over one event at a time and run through the possibilities as well as my own picks for this unforgettable world class badminton event.

I am sure this will be a memorable event for all of us to think back upon for a long time. Before we start, I would like to ONCE again congratulate Renee Flavell (Auckland), Craig Cooper (Waikato) and John Moody (North Harbour) for qualifying in this year's Olympic Games, I along with the whole of New Zealand wish you all the best of luck and enjoy your eye opening experience. At the end of each event summary, I have invited high performance players in providing their own early picks in the overall winner in each event. Here we go:

When we talk about world class Mens singles, I am sure a lot of you would think about Lin Dan of China and Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia. They are surely the favorites in this competition because of all their past experience and results. But it is the Olympics this is where Lin Dan lost in the first round 4 years ago against Ronald Susilo of Singapore. Being held once every 4 years can cause players to put a lot more pressure on themselves to win the event. Lin Dan had all the hopes in winning it at Athens 4 years ago but because of all the pressures, he couldn't carry himself through to win. Lee Chong Wei at the same time has been a clear favorite in this game but wouldn't fair well if he is to face Lin Dan in the finals. Keep watch for something special happening in this competition. Don't forget our very own John Moody (North Harbour) will also be competing in this event, I am sure he will represent New Zealand nicely and come back even stronger then before. For myself, I am keen in seeing Taufik Hidayat of Indonesia winning back to back Gold Medals. He hasn't been showing great forms lately at all the super series and opens but I somehow feel that he will have what it takes to come out on top. The chance is slim but I wouldn't be surprised if he does come through.

Some consider Womens Singles to be more boring and a slow event. I personally think they are also one of the hardest games around. They are not based around speed as much as the mens with the shuttles but watching them controlling each rally and pin pointing every shot to a certain corner is always eye popping to me. Their consistency and accuracy is always so amazing to watch. In this competition, the clear favorite must goes to Xie Xingfang of China and the recent new badminton shining star Tine Rasmussen of Denmark. We unfortunately have no players from New Zealand representing in this event but I am sure the likes of our Michelle Chan (Auckland) will make it to London Olympic in 2012. I also believe Xie Xingfang could take home the Gold but Zhang Ning of China could also be a threat to her as well since she has the experience in this event over Xie Xingfang. The similarities in each of these ladies are they all have a slim and long body frame. They have what I mentioned about the consistency and Xie Xingfang has the big smash down the side line as her weapon. The under dogs for this event would most likely be Lu Lan of China and Wong Mew Choo of Malaysia as they both have shown great forms in recent years on the world stage with both winning super series titles.

This one could be one of the most exciting events of all with alot of speed and power likely to come through each shot. Don't forget the fastest smash recorded in a game was set in a doubles game by Fu Haifeng of China at well over 300km/h. In most of the competitions, mens doubles will often be put at the end to attract people into staying for the last event. At last year's New Zealand Open, our organizers did the same and left the mens doubles till last it was a move that will never be forgotten. Both doubles pair lived up to the expectation and fought it out between them drawing cheers all around and turning the crowd up side down. In Beijing, I believe the top few pairs will have a great battle in between them as they are all so equal in terms of skills and speed. This is a game where your defense can help you a lot in this game when both side are going all out for the smashes. With the recent form from of Jung Jae Sung / Lee Yong Dae of Korea, I believe they will have a very good chance at winning GOLD for Korea but not before they go pass the likes of Cai Yun / Fu Haifeng of China. Depending on the draw, I believe Kido Markis / Setiawan Hendra of Indonesia and Koo Kien Keat / Tan Boon Heong of Malaysia will also have a good chance of advancing for the chance of taking home the Gold.

Analysts

Golden Pick

Backup Pick

Michael Chi

Coach

Lee Yong Dae (KOR - L)

Jung Jae Sung (KOR - R)

Kido Markis (INA - L)

Setiawan Hendra (INA - R)

Brent Miller

Auckland ETP Player

Lee Yong Dae (KOR - L)

Jung Jae Sung (KOR - R)

Cai Yun (CHN - L)

Fu Haifeng (CHN - R)

Delius Tang

Former National Singles Squad Player

Cai Yun (CHN - L)

Fu Haifeng (CHN - R)

Tan Boon Heong (MAS - L)

Koo Kien Keat (MAS - R)

This again is all about consistency, accuracy and positioning of each shot. This is another event that we will not be having any players competing in this year but we must remember we have a strong history of Womens doubles as well with our New Zealand proud and past Manchester Commonwealth Games silver medalists Nicole Gordon (Auckland) / Sara Runesten Petersen (North Harbour) who both recently retired from International Badminton. China's Womens doubles has been clearly dominating the world that I often see FOUR pairs of China in the semi finals. That may also be why the world's top three positions are currently being hold by the Chinese pairs. These ladies are just that much stronger then the rest of the world and seem no one apart from the Korean pairs is anywhere close to their level at this moment. Lee Hyo Jung / Lee Kyung Won of Korea are the only pair that has won a super series this year apart from China. I have strong feelings on the Koreans making an upset to the Chinese but because of the strength and depth of the Chinese Women.

This is an event that New Zealand has always been strong historically in with Daniel Shirley (Waitakere) and Sara Runesten Petersen (North Harbour) winning a bronze medal in 2005 at the world championships. This year, we will once again have a strong mixed pair of Renee Flavell (Auckland) and Craig Cooper (Waikato) in Beijing. They are going to face a lot of tough competition but with the attitude of impossible-is-nothing they could still come back with great results. This year, there will be a number of pairs that will have a chance at winning Gold as they are all evenly matched. Natsir Lilyana / Widianto Nova of Indonesia will be one of the clear favorites being the number one seed of the competition. But with the experience of Gao Ling (winning countless of titles in mixed as well as womens doubles) / Zheng Bo of China, the games will be tightly contested. England can be a strong underdog in this tournament as Gail Emms / Nathan Robertson and Anthony Clark / Donna Kellogg are both very strong pairs who can also be big threats to the Asian pairs. The Koreans are once again represented by two very strong talents with Lee Hyo Jung / Lee Yong Dae both feathering in my womens and mens doubles analysis ranking top 10 in the world. With the recent interview from TVNZ with Craig Cooper, he mentioned that they are hoping to make it to the quarters, I personally believe it can be done but yet again, it would have to depend on the nature of the draw. Good Luck once again.

In conclusion, I hope you all enjoyed reading this issue's article about the Olympic hopes. Just a reminder to all the above analyses is only based on my own perspective.

Or are we waiting for some big upsets happening before our eyes. We will wait and see. See you all next time.