Seems interesting to me that Zhang Nan is guiding the juniors while the other 2 are getting more experienced and established players to pair with them.
Could it be the CHN coaches are reluctant for him to do double duty and prefer that he concentrates on MD, otherwise, I'd have thought pairing him with Chen Qingchen in XD looks a good idea now that Zheng Siwei is paired up with Huang Yaqiong ?
Zhang Nan's purported (more or less confirmed) XD partner, Liu Xuanxuan, is only 17 years old, born 18th June 2000, and still playing the junior circuit, now doing duty at the WJC in INA. It's obvious ZN is assigned the role of mentor.
in between the Dubai and WC, to me, CQC made many unforced errors in XD and WD......maybe its a sign of fatique?
In this regard (mentorship), team korea could have done a better job.......LYD/YYS/KSH/SBC have contributed much success (as well as to Victor brand) but yet are left in the wilderness......
I m also curious why Zhang Nan will be partner with Liu Xuanxuan . It is his desicion or coach decision ? Because I thought he will partner with CQC after zheng siwei will partner with Huang yaqiong . I miss his fantastic perfomance in xd . Hopefully he will get the right partner to balance his skill
Zhang Nan is a fantastic doubles player, regardless XD or MD, just give him the right partner and the combo is virtually intimidating and formidable. It takes time for a doubles pair to gel and develop mutual tacit understanding so that they can click as a pair to bring out the best in both the players, like Zhang Nan and Zhao Yunlei in their glorious years and Zhang Nan and Fu Haifeng. Mentoring young, inexperienced players is usually a long, laborious process, may even be a thankless task as I don't suppose ZN relishes losing too often. Still, there is a possibility the veteran and young partnership may hit pay dirt if the young one is gifted and turns out to be exactly the right partner for him.
Hopefully Liu Xuanxuan can be right partner to Zhang Nan . Its take about one year for ZN and LC to have mutual understanding and to be one of the best md right now . But , his partnership with LYH not promising in XD , obviously ZN need someone more better and skilful than LYH .
in MD, ZN is WR4 with LC in XD, ZN is WR5 with LYH. I think its just the same, he doesnt underachieve in XD, not at all. Its all expectations. and LC is more experience than LYH. Because when one said this XD pair underachieved, that means ZN is just so so playing with mediocre player. and i'm not sure what the coaches expect when there is ZSW/CQC and LK/HYQ in front of you. It shouldnt be the end of the partnership in all circumstances.
Front court specialist Zhang Nan and middle court specialist Hendra Setiawan combined together to register a special win, 21-13 21-15 for Qingdao BC against Zheng Sejie and his partner representing Jiangsu.
Zhang Nan and his buddy Hendra Setiawan are unstoppable according to Chai Baio/Ren Chengkai's latest 16-21 18-21 defeat against them.
Only true lovers of Badminton will enjoy the Classical Badminton produced by Hendra Setiawan/ Zhang Nan. So much mutual admiration and respect brought a smile on my face.
the fact that these two can't communicate with each other and Hendra had to assume the role of a rear court player makes the performance even more admirable.
World Cup they said. They don't hold World Cup anymore so I guess he will never get his 5th star anytime soon or ever.