(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) A spate of retirements of the once-dominant Chinese badminton players following the Rio Olympics was expected to herald a quieter period for the badminton powerhouse, but several young players have stepped up to the plate and will keep China's hopes for gold alive when competition in the Dubai World Superseries Finals is played from December 14 to 18.
China's women's singles superstars and former world number ones Wang Shixian and Wang Yihan were among the first to retire, followed by women's doubles players and 2012 Olympic gold medallists and two time World Champions Zhao Yunlei and Tian Qing. Zhao is widely regarded as one of the finest doubles players of her generation having also won a total of five World Championships, mixed doubles gold at the 2012 Olympic Games and bronze in Rio 2016 alongside Zhang Nan. Former world number ones Yu Yang and Ma Jin also announced the end of their careers.
With 2012 Olympic singles gold medallist Li Xuerui still battling injury, the retirements saw China suffer a significant dent in their post-Olympics playing roster. But the final six MetLife BWF World Superseries events have shown that China's youngsters are more than up to the task and the new generation of teens will be a serious threat in Dubai.
After being as low as 25 in the Destination Dubai Women's Singles Rankings early in the year, talented 19-year-old He Bingjiao powered home in the second half of the season, enjoying Superseries glory twice, first at the Yonex Open Japan - then two events later - at the Yonex French Open. He's superb play saw her force her way into a qualifying spot for the season-ending blockbuster.
But the Dubai debutante will have her work cut out for her, coming up against a stellar field which features the first ever women's singles badminton Olympic gold medallist from Europe, and the current World Champion, Carolina Marin; Japan's own teenage sensation Akane Yamaguchi who collected two Superseries titles this year, and India's rising star PV Sindhu who won India's first badminton Olympic silver medal in Rio, as well as her first Superseries title in the Thaihot China Open in November.
Bingjiao's explosion onto the singles world stage has been accompanied by the emergence of some dynamic doubles pairings. China, it seems, has a stash of talented teens, with another 19-year-old, Chen Qingchen looking to take over the mantle from the legendary Zhao Yunlei.
A multiple world junior champion, Chen came of age at the senior level this year, anchoring China to the Uber Cup triumph at home and then winning her first Superseries in Women's Doubles in Australia in June with Bao Yixin. Chen also reached the mixed doubles final with yet another 19 year old, Zheng Siwei.
The post-Olympics season has seen Chen in the thick of action. Chen and Zheng picked up their first Superseries as a pair at the Yonex Open Japan, followed by a runner-up finish at the Victor Korea Open in October.
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