6 olympics WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8, 2012 CHINA DAILY Keen rivalry might extend to Rio 2016 HOTONWEB @Denghuade By CHEN XIANGFENG derail Lee’s gold aspirations if the “Thank you to the greatest basketball fans in the world! Sorry we in London pair clashes again in a major fi nal. couldn’t get a win— but we gave our all. This level was just too chenxiangfeng@ Lin’s response could be bad much for us.” Chinese men’s basketball coach Bob Donewald on China chinadaily.com.cn news for Malaysian badminton losing fi ve games in a row at the Olympics fans, who believe their icon could Chinese shuttler Lin Dan win gold in Rio. @Xie Xingfang released his autobiography Until They have been hoping the the End of the World “Windsor is the fi rst stop for my family’s holiday.” on the same media reports that London would Lin Dan’s wife, Xie Xinfang, on spending a holiday with family day he won the gold medal at the be Lin’s last Olympics were true. after the Olympics London Olympics, while Malay- “There’s always a period of PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY sian finalist Lee Chong Wei, reflection after the Olympics,” Zhao Yunlei (left), Cai Yun (center) and Fu Haifeng pose with young fans at the Red Bull @Li Nan Badminton Super Final on Monday in London. whom Lin beat to take the gold, said Lin, who will be 33 in 2016. “Today, we fi nished the last game in the Olympics. A diffi cult published his autobiography, “I’m a responsible man. I will journey and a great pity! We lost all fi ve games. But we still want to Dare to Be a Cham- not rush to a decision (to retire thank our coach Bob Donewald for having helped Chinese men’s pion, late last year. from the Games). I’ll think about Amateur shuttlers play basketball for three years! Thank u!” The books’ titles it. But once I make the decision Chinese men’s basketball player Li Nan on losing all his hint at the reality (to keep playing through 2016), team’s games at the Olympics that the pair’s rivalry I’ll do my best, as I always have.” ‘another kind of badminton’ will likely continue. Lin believes that even if he is @Liu Xuan Th e recently-crowned Chinese too old to play in 2016, other “Yi Bing is still a great gymnast! His calmness and tolerance is so champion “Super Dan” is ready young Chinese shuttlers won’t let By Han Yu in London I didn’t have to take all the bur- About 500,000 enthusiasts appreciated. Judges might have been so eager to spend a holiday to fi ght at the next Games in Rio, Lee take the gold. [email protected] den during the competitions from 129 cities participated in in Brazil! How evident the fl attery is!” especially aft er he heard Lee will “If I don’t do it, then young and just enjoyed the sport like the 2011 Red Bull Badminton Chinese former gymnastic Olympic winner Liu Xuan on Chen extend his quest to claim Olympic players like Chen Long won’t let China’s national badminton (the amateur players),” Li said. amateur tournament. Yibing losing the gold gold to 2016. him claim the gold,” Lin said. team captured global attention Li and his team were under The winners, respectively “If Lee plays (in Rio), I will too,” Lee, who ended Malaysia’s by sweeping all fi ve gold med- enormous pressure after the from North and South China, @Cheng Fei the world No 1 told China Daily Olympic medal drought — als at the London Olympics. team’s game-throwing strat- came to London to fight for “He Kexin, no one will blame you, because this is the best of you.” in London on Monday — one which had lasted since the 1996 Now, it is sharing the spot- egy in group match led to the the Super Final and joined Chinese gymnast Cheng Fei on He’s performance in the women’s uneven bars day aft er he repeated the victory Games — with the silver in Bei- light with local and Chinese disqualifi cation of the doubles’ exchange programs with local he also claimed in Beijing in 2008. jing, will be 34 years old in 2016. amateur players who compet- top pair. clubs and players. @He Wenna Th e win extended Lin’s record He had been struggling with an ed in the Red Bull Badminton “We had to fi ght for the top “People make different “When I was in the Olympics, it was i Partment3 that accompanied over Lee to 14-6. injury before London. Super Final near the Games’ place at the Games,” Li said. eff orts for diff erent goals,” said me and made me relaxed. I am a good man, I am ... Zeng Xiaoxian! Since Lin’s Beijing victory, he But his coach and mentor, Mis- badminton venue on Monday. “The sport means some- Wu Liang, who played in the I am back in Beijing now and will take a good rest. I will still watch also beat Lee in the finals of the bun Sidek, believes Lee can make The event was intended to thing diff erent to these ama- men’s doubles at the Red Bull Zeng Xiaoxian’s show later.” 2010 Asian Games and the 2011 the final in 2016, as long as he remind people that the Olym- teur players. While they don’t Badminton Super Final. Chinese gymnast He Wenna after returning home World Championships. keeps fi ghting. pics doesn’t exclusively belong have professional training, this “Since the Chinese selec- Lee’s major win over Lin was at “He overcame lots of diffi cul- to the world’s top athletes — it’s activity is something that to tion system requires profes- @sydneyleroux the 2011 All-England Champion- ties before London and made it for everyone. them is fun, and improves their sional players for professional “Never give up.” ship final. into the fi nal,” Sidek said. In something of a role rever- physical and mental health.” matches, the one who wants US women’s soccer team striker Sydney Leroux on the team’s “Lin is the greatest badminton “He is a great man. I would not sal, China’s national badmin- China is known for produc- to reach a higher level must diffi cult win against Canada in the semifi nals player in the world,” Lee said aft er be surprised to see him in the fi nal ton team took to the stands to ing full-time players under its devote himself to his badmin- his defeat. in 2016 if he sustains his motiva- cheer for the amateurs. Th ey State-run system. ton career. @paugasol “I just can’t beat him when tion and focuses on training.” snapped photos and asked for Since the 2008 Beijing “We’re another kind of “Today we couldn’t fi nish the 1st phase with a victory. The only we meet. Th e good thing is that While they’re fi ercely competi- amateur players’ autographs. Olympics, it has placed more badminton. We’re here to tell thing we should concentrate on is our opponent in the quarters. there’s only one Lin Dan in the tive rivals on the court, Lin and Even head coach Li Yongbo attention on the development foreign players that China has #Team” world.” Lee are good friends off it. expressed envy. of amateur sports in commu- more athletes than its full-time Spanish basketball player Pau Gasol on his team’s 82-88 But one would be enough to Lin invited Lee to his wedding. “I really wish my players and nities. professional competitors.” defeat by Brazil.