Badminton Heroes

(age 26)

Lin Dan is a left-handed player whose most defining characteristic is his ability to attack with fast smashes at steep angles. He combines quick movements around the court with the ability to maintain long aggressive rallies to win the majority of his matches. He is confident in diving to retrieve his opponents attacking shots with an exceptionally fast recovery. His well built physique helps him to produce powerful straight and cross court jump smashes, and his dynamic penetrating footwork makes him one of the toughest active badminton players in the open circuit. At one time he was criticized for a lack of precision or refinement, especially when compared to competitors such as Taufik Hidayat and Peter Gade, although Lin is now adept at using deceptive wrist movements to create winning shots. He sometimes struggles to put sufficient pace back on the shuttle when his opponent reduces it with an overhead shot. Other criticisms are in his slight lapses of concentration during crucial stages of a game.

(age 27)

Datuk Lee Chong Wei is known for his extraordinary defensive play, combining fast reaction times with very quick movements towards attacking shots. This attributes him with an almost unnatural ability to retrieve powerful smashes, and return to a winning position within the rally. His ability to smash crosscourt towards his right side (opposite to the natural trajectory of a crosscourt smash for a right-handed player) is often a winning shot, especially after prolonged tiring of his opponent within the rally. He is an extremely fit player, who utilizes a relatively small physique and consistent, disciplined training program to last even the longest of badminton matches without appearing to get tired (using this tactically to his advantage, by wearing down his less fit opponents with clear shots). Criticisms are in his over-reliance of stamina and defensive play, sometimes not taking the initiative to attack when there is an opportunity to do so.

(age 28)

Taufik Hidayat's main qualities are his backhand (as he is perhaps most famous for his backhand smash, revered for its unusually high generation of power) forehand jump smash, drop shot (reverse slice in particular), smooth footwork and deceiving net play. Hidayat's forehand jump smash in the 2006 world championships is currently the fastest smash recorded in single's competition. He recorded a 305 kph smash in a match against Ng Wei.

This overwhelming power on both his forehand and backhand, combined with his tenacity at the net and scope for deceptive shots provide him with an extremely diverse weaponry on court, making him one of the most difficult players on the open circuit. Criticisms are in his lack of fitness, impatience with loud crowds and his propensity to return a net shot with a net shot, even though his opponent is dangerously close to the net.

In 2009, he started competing in world badminton tournaments independently outside the Indonesian national badminton team. This supposedly gives him the freedom to enter only the tournaments he wishes.

(age 33)

Peter Høeg Gade's playing style is known for fast attacks, smooth footwork and constant pressure. His deception is particularly creative for a world badminton player, and he uses a widely recognised and highly successful "trademark shot" (the so-called double action of the racket sends the shuttle to the back of the court, whilst aiming to bring the player towards the net, away from the shuttlecock's true destination). With a plethora of deceptive and confusing shots, he has been known to win points from more outrageous attempts, such as the reverse forehand (using the opposite side of the racket head to the one anticipated, to make contact with the shuttlecock at a radically different angle). At the club level he plays for Team Skælskør Slagelse.

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