Lee Hyun Il

he has always been my favourite player.

 

Sweet! Although I doubt that Lee will actually have 50:50 against CH. But nothing is impossible and I would rather see him playing in the final than all Chinese. And hopefully he could work his way back to the world’s top 10.

 

I, too, am excited about Lee's chances. He disposed of Ponsana and Bao so easily, judging by the numbers. His record against Chen Hong is 2:3 and two of the defeats were back in 2000 when Lee was still a nobody and Chen was already in the top 10.

I don't particularly like Lee but I am so sick and tired of seeing all-Chinese finals in any event. I actually didn't care that I was in the only badminton power with no TV coverage of the All-England because the finals looked so dull. The women, especially, never seem to take each other to 3 games. We did have a great all-Chinese men's singles final here last year but that included Xia Xuanze in top form so how could it not be exciting?

 

Heh, I agree, I truly hope that Lee will top over Chen because anothe Chen/Lin Finals would be such a bore. I also agree that Xia seems to be the only chinese MS player that used to excite me, regardless of match up (Wish he was back in top form).

 

Yes,

he is from South Korea.

 

not FROM. Live near Seoul

 

It's growing all the time. It certainly has far more popularity than in Canada. Still it lags far behind what you might expect given the success of its elite players. Still for a huge majority of the population it is something only done outside without a net, like lawn darts or croquet.

There has been some investment in dedicated badminton facilities in recent years so that has really helped to make it something to take seriously for more people. At least 90% of serious players are over 30. Young people are discouraged from doing sports (except for soccer and basketball which boys of all ages play) as a hobby. I mean discouraged either passively - by say, the mood of the club dominated by older, married people - or actively as in the case of young women I've talked to who have been told, when they show up at the gym, that they should be seeking a husband rather than doing sports. All that is in the process of changing, thank goodness. Some universities now have active badminton clubs and with new public facilities with $1 admission fees, young people don't have to commit to and invest in $30/month memberships in clubs full of older people.

 

he is really a good player!

 

This is very interesting to know.

 

Pardon! Event!

I thought the question is whether Lee Hyunil is from Korea.

 

Lee Hyunil graduated from the Han Sports University. His university (called HanCheDae) and the university of the immortal mens doubles players Kim Dongmoon/Ha Taekwon are the best badminton teams in the whole country. Kim's University is called Wongkwang University.

So Park Sunghwan (MS, beat Lin Dan last year), Jun Jaeyoun (WS) and many other members of the Korean National Squad are at the Han Sports University. The legend Park Joobong now responsible for Japan was a professor for Badminton there many years ago.

The new Korean MD hope Lee Jaejin/Jung Jaesung are currently studying at the Wonkwang University and Sohn Seungmo (MS) are a graduate of this university.

Lee Hyunil is now playing for his home team "Kim Chun City" and received more contract money (estimated more than 150000 US$) than Kim Dongmoon when he turned preofessional after his graduation.

He had a mental slump shortly after he became World ranking No.1 in the crucial Olympic year.

At the End of the last year he must have completed a short period of military service - a duty of every Korean males.
He even lost to a younger player called Ahn Hyunsuk in the Korean League match and completely lost his previous level of palying.

I met him at this year's German Open. His physical fitness was near zero. He lost to Lee Chongwei in two straight sets, if I remember correctly. So Lee Hyunil and Sohn Seungmo stayed at home during the Japan Open and other opens and had to undergo a physical recovery training. Sohn due to a foot surgery.

Lee Hyunil is undoubtedly the number 1 in the Korean MS.
He decided the victory at 2003 Sudirman Cup with his win over the No. 1 of that time Chen Hong. Both Lee HI and Sohn SM missed this year's Sudirman Cup.

At 2005 Singapore Open he lost to a confident and mighty Chen Hong. But he took revenge on Lee Chongwei and Boonsak Ponsana who threw him out at Athens Olympic Games.

 

Actually, Lee HI had to take part in a one-month military elementary education. But he can't determine the exact time point, so I presume he was a couple of months away from the training.

He won the Sudirman Cup and was also a member of the Asian Games Team's competition in Busan, Korea, in 2002. So Lee HI and Sohn SM needn't serve in the Korean Army.

Olympic medals can exempt the male players from the mandatory military service, too. (i.e. Kim DM/Ha TK and Lee Dongsoo/Yoo Yongsung)

 

Both!
Where are you from?