Li Yongbo: It's good to lose once in a while

China's head coach Li Yongbo dismissed any talk of a crisis in the Chinese camp after Wang Shixian and Wang Xin both suffered surprisingly easy defeats in the on-going 2011 Double Star BWF Sudirman Cup World Mixed Team Championships.
Jij het nieuws, wij een tikkie!
World No. 1 Wang Shixian, was beaten 21-19, 21-16 by Germany's Juliane Schenk last Sunday and on Thursday, India's Saina Nehwal finally got the better of world No. 3 Wang Xin (picture), when she had a surprisingly easy 21-15, 21-11 victory at the Qingdao Sports Centre Conson Stadium.
"It is a good for the sport if more and more players from different parts of the world can start beating the Chinese players," said Li Yonbo. "Badminton can develop better if more countries can stand up to our might.
"It used to be that only shuttlers from Malaysia, Indonesia, South Korea, Japan and Denmark who gave China a tough time. Now, players from Germany and India among others can be added to that list."
Schenk's victory in Qingdao means she has now beaten three Chinese players who have all reached the top ranking in women's singles – Wang Shixian Wang Yihan and Jiang Yangjiao.
Saina beat Wang Shixian in the Hong Kong Open final last December to make it two world No. 1s scalps while Denmark's Tine Baun has beaten Wang Yihan five times in nine meetings and leads Jiang Yangjiao, 2-0 in head-to-heads.
"Perhaps if we win all our matches, it will not be good for the sport," said Li Yongbo, who could afford to laugh as, despite Wang Xin's defeat, China still sailed into the Saturday's semi-final where they will meet South Korea.
Asked who he will play in the semi-final, Li Yongbo said he has not made up his mind as the three Wangs – Shixian, Yihan and Xin – are all capable of winning if fielded.
QR-code voor dit artikel
Badminton Nederland voorzitter Jan Helmond stelt zich niet herkiesbaar
Jan Helmond, voorzitter van Badminton Nederland, stelt zich niet herkiesbaar voor een nieuwe termijn. Hij heeft een functie…
19 juni 2025
De nieuwe wereldtoppers hebben geen smartphone
Voordat spelers hier in Azië beginnen met hun trainingsstage vraag ik vaak of ze een verslaving hebben die hun…
18 juni 2025
Joran Kweekel: I will retire from international badminton
This decision comes with a heavy heart, because it also means I have failed to reach the goals I set out as a young kid. Thats…
29 mei 2025
Webinar Badmintonspecifieke Richtlijn Gender- en Seksediverse personen op 26 mei 2025
Badminton Nederland organiseert op maandag 26 mei een online webinar / vragenuurtje waarin we onze nieuwe Badmintonspecifieke…
20 mei 2025
Meer artikelen over bwf
- Bondsvoorzitter Jan Helmond gekozen tot Council Member van BWF - Badminton Nederland
- Denmark Open 2024: waarom zouden de Aziaten nog naar Europa komen? - (bl)aad(je)
- Denmark Open 2024: magische Deense toverstokken op zaterdag - (bl)aad(je)
- Denmark Open 2024: de problemen in Nederland zijn groter dan in Denemarken - (bl)aad(je)
- Denmark Open 2024: de donderdag met jeugdtoernooien (en een kotsende Viktor Axelsen) - (bl)aad(je)