The 4 heavenly kings in the 1990's - 1 from Demark, 1 from INA, 2 from China. The 4 heavenly kings in the 2000's - 1 from Demark, 1 from INA, 1 from MAL, 1 from China. The 4 heavenly kings in the 2010's - Without any promising youngsters from other countries, all from China? CL, DPY, Tian Houwei, Song Xue?
Peter is a prince among men. If they have a circuit for these "retired" players like they have those matches in tennis, I'd give my right arm to watch these 4 kings (and the earlier ones as well) play their exhibition matches, and grudge matches as well Oh God! TAUFIK!! TAUFIK!!! No one can ever take your place.
The 4 heavenly kings in the 2010's - Without any promising youngsters from other countries, all from China? CL, DPY, Tian Houwei, Song Xue? CL - To some extent , we can accept.. In what way, DPY , Tian Houwei and Xue SOng coming here... Lol..
I agree. DPY isn't bad though, he has shown a lot of potential. Kenichi Tago is a strong contender if he keeps improving. He is playing some very good matches but can't seem to win against LCW. Tian has won a match against LCW which is a great achievement but otherwise I haven't heard of him on the international scene much. Same with Xue Song. Axelson could possibly be the next Gade but he has a lot of work to do. There aren't any obvious candidates yet apart from CL I think.
Then, we can all pick our favourite CHN player. No hot discussions between nationalities. It is like between Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi in tennis.
DPY, THW, XS have the capabilities to be there, but surely there is no guarantee. The other players from other countries will come up, sooner or later.
goodbye taufik, thanks for the Asian Games, Olympic and World Champ gold medal good luck for your life man!
Good bye tataufik My deepest memory of taufik, is him at 17yo playing at all England final. although only 17, he show tremendous skills, calmness and power.
I too must offer my tributes the Taufik. I was fortunate enough to have watched him play in my own city. He was a magician, a one of a kind genius. And that trademark backhand... WOW! I hope he manages to unearth a few for Taufiks at his academy.
I wish I knew him during his peak. But seen few of his matches, he sure was and is a magician. Its only that everyone figured out his tricks... I felt very bad today for him by the way people bid him farewell today. I was expecting a farewell at a much grander scale than Peter Gade's. But I was sorely disappointed. I hope PBSA and event organizers have something in mind to celebrate the emotional moment of bidding a farewell to a National Hero. Good bye Taufik Hidayat!
It was an honour watching you Taufik. Your playing style, deception and smoothness were one of a kind. That backhand of yours was a joy to watch and I doubt it will ever be matched. I take my hat off to have been fortunate enough to see so many of your matches (although sadly none live) and I will keep on re-watching them for as long as I can. You will be hugely missed, I hope you have great success in your academy and wish you all the best for your future. Goodbye Taufik (The Great, One of the 4 Kings) Hidayat.