HKV is actually quite a steady performer, the reason his fortunes seem to vary so much in the professional circuit is because he has basically "stagnated" (can't learn new tricks) like Son Wan Ho-- if their bag of tricks are able to counter their opponents, form permitting, they'll win; if the opponent can counter their bag of tricks, then they'll lose. But mentally, HKV and SWH are both stronger than the most mid-level "veteran" players because they have both had a long mid-career fight-back from injury (which probably caused their "stagnation") till their current standings. Sorry if this sounds grating, but the youngsters HKV defeated were (at this point in time) one-trick ponies-- form permitting, HKV totally has the strategies and plays to defeat them... what I am really impressed with is his mental fortitude: he was clearly nervous and error-prone at the start of every game, but kept/adjusted his presence of mind to execute his gameplay.
this TC final is exciting but not spectacular to be honest... all 5 games' results are as expected, Den won 3 MS, Ind won 2 MD... no games were closely contested.... all end in 2:0, not even a game decided in not more than 2 points...
the last MS was a disappointment from a spectator's point of view... too one sided... no climax... the last 10 points like garbage time in NBA... what a pity...
YESSSSSSSSS Just finished watching it. YESSS. Denmark made it, oh yes. The world of badminton comes one step closer once again. Great for the competition. They derserve to win it, they just deserve to win. And they can celebrate. Pure joy. (Not this ofc we should win, like China yesterday it is just different if the field is open instead of having the clear favourite win. And it doesnt matter whether its CHN or any other country) What glory if you can win it this way (Their no.1 doubles not here, players struggled with injuries. Tatically well played, to not risk JOJ in the SF). Three times 3:2, what nerves they had. And players like Holst who suddenly shined to make this happen. Great to also see Boe win such a big title at the end of his career. What boost this will be for the upcoming Olympics. Viktor, Jan now know how to win the big things Great dominance in singles today. INA was pretty nervous in the doubles, but they comeback after slow starts in both MDs and won convingincly in the end. Both nations won what was supposed to win for the Cup, but INAs youngsters couldnt rise to the occasion. If you want to "blame" someone I fear its TS who lost his way leading in game 2. They won it fair, no excuses. Whoever would have played in MS for INA Denmarks boys have just the best mentality!
He is new and young. Looks like he is a bright kid but wasting his youth and talent here. Life is more than just badminton unless you are a professional player.
China has many talented young players why worry? If team INA today had the guts to fielding their youngsters why not China?
Since Lang Ping returned to coach the CHN team for the second time in 2013, CHN team has been increasing to the Top-2 today, they just won the FIVB Women's World Cup 2015 held in Japan, earned the team & the runner-up, Serbia, the first tickets to Rio OG.
All of LCW, VA, Intanon, Nehwal, Li Xuerui and even Marin's games were spectacular-- they came roaring out of the gate trying to win the first point for their team, whether their team had a good chance or not, making this Thomas & Uber Cup look like a real competition...
Whether or not the team could reach the final, SDK should be brought by looking at how he performed at Singapore Open. I believe he will be valuable to the team in case the match goes to the third single.
Team China, yes; Team Li Yongbo, no...he has become the kind of "technocrat" that you see a lot of in administrative/government position.
Talking about CHN-KOR duel, why China didn't put Lin Dan as first singles to face Son Wan Ho?! It's a big risk to field the shaky Chen Long who did two blunders in 2014, this man has no self-belief as leading role in team event.
Err, no-- because I am not the only one who can see that he outplayed his opponents in/due to "drifty" conditions in the Singapore Indoor Stadium (a relatively large complex when it comes to badminton).
Yup, Inthanon, Nehwel and Marin know that their team will not win but still gave their best when on court. Good sportsmanship.
NEWS UPDATE: Long long ago, positioning strategies resulted in easy victories and less exciting/fair competitions-- so the Thomas/Uber Cup rules have been changed to require that world ranking of 1st singles fielded must be higher than the 2nd, which must be higher than the 3rd; and 1st doubles fielded must be higher than the second. Now the positioning strategies mainly revolved breaking up established doubles with higher rankings so that they can be fielded as 2nd doubles with lower rankings-- but this is a high-risk strategy which actually does make the competition more exciting/entertaining (& is still pretty fair).
Can Denmark field HKVas both 3rd singles and 2nd doubles? If yes, then the order of play will be MS1, MD1 MS2, Ms3 and MD2. It would be over by the 4th match.
sorry to disagree with you. I saw SDK was having a good and stable play throughout the Singapore Open. With that kind of mentality and skills, I believe he will be very valuable to be fielded as 3rd single.
He he he the Korean team came out alive from the fierce battle against the Chinese team in the QF but with heavily soaked soldiers, eventually the third party, the Indonesian team that reaped the full benefit and defeated them with relative ease. I think that draw was unfortunate for both teams, the loser and winner, for the winner wouldn't survive the next round either. This is a good lesson if two powerful players from the same NOC happen to face each other before the final in Rio Oly... they have to make up decision... and these outcomes of the China-Korea then Korea-Indonesia saga should be a good reminder!
