Zhao – The Former great…

Zhao Jian Hua

Arguably the most deceptive player of all time and one of the best player of his era, Zhao Jian Hua is a player that needs little introduction. For those who have not heard of him, his titles consist of the world championship, world grandprix, all England, and many others throughout his illustrious career. He is also a team member of the holy trinity of singles in badminton team event during the 1988 Thomas cup winning team with the likes of Yang Yang and Xiong Guo Bao.

Zhao Jianhua:

Born in 1965, height 1.83m, left hander, originates from Jiangsu Province. Entered sports school at the age of 12, majoring in Badminton. Selected into the Jiangsu Badminton squad (province level) at the age of 13. Won Jiangsu City badminton competition at the age of 16.

 

He was China’s rising star.

 

A year later, in Nov 1984 Defeated Morten Frost to win the Scotland Open.

Jan 1985, he defeated Morten Frost and Han Jian to win the Japan Open.
Apr 1985, he won the All England by defeating Liem Swie King in semifinal (2-0) and Morten Frost in final (2-1).

Zhao Jianhua had defeated four world class players within 3 months. This news shocked the world in badminton and soon he was recognized as one of the “FOUR HEAVENLY KINGS”.

In 1986, he recovered from a lung disease which had forced him to rest for a year. And he soon won the Malaysia Open, Asian Games, China Open and Thailand Open.

Zhao is well known for his attacking play and hard smashes but the illness caused him to rely more on his skill and deft cross courts chops to the side line.

I have been searching for a video of a match where he played with Indonesia’s Ardy Wiranata in the 1991 World championship semifinals where he went on to beat Allan Budi in the finals. That match to me was one of Zhao’s great performances where he displayed everything of the classic player and today’s modern player.

Back to his achievements:

1987, he won the World Cup.

1988, Thomas Cup.

1990, Thomas Cup and All England.

1991, World Champion and World GP Finals Champion.

1994, Zhao Jianhua entered a management college in Singapore, and also became a coach in a secondary school and advisor of Singapore National Squad.

Zhao is a player that’s on top of my player list where the classic players possess skills and strokes and modern players possess speed and power, he has it all.

*Some contents are snippets taken from other internet resources

1990 AE Open – MS F – Zhao Jianhua vs Joko Suprianto – (1/3)  

1990 AE Open – MS F – Zhao Jianhua vs Joko Suprianto – (2/3)

1990 AE Open – MS F – Zhao Jianhua vs Joko Suprianto – (3/3)

World no.1

Lee Chong wei

For the second time in a row our local hero was beaten in the finals by a player rank below him.          5 and 10 respectively. 4 and 9 rungs below our no.1. That leaves us to question the current ranking system. I have little knowledge on how they calculate the points within the grade of tournaments but I do have a rough idea. As much I’m proud of a MALAYSIAN no.1, there is clearly a loophole in the ranking system.

If I were to be the best player in the world….well to make explanation easier, let say I AM the best in the world and I choose to play 2 tournaments in a year. I get a full 100 points in the grading system that will leave me 200 points at the end of the year. Compared to player X who plays 10 tournaments a year and qualifies for the last 16th in all tournaments. Lets say last 16th earns him 30points. By the end of the year, he will accumulate 300points.

If we were to rank each other, Player X would be ranked no.1

Now I understand that players prefer not to miss tournaments to collect valuable points to qualify for the World GP, etc… There are incidents where a player chooses to rest and skip certain tournaments or maybe bogged down by injury.

So if I am the best in the world, and choose not to play in more tournaments I am ranked lower where as if a player that is not the best in the world chooses to play in more tournaments and not win them is ranked higher…

I know for tennis they are bound by their sponsors and contract to appear at least how many time per year… if its not the same for badminton( Im not aware) then…

Is the world no.1 that elusive anymore?