Data Map: Li Zongwei and Lin Dan. Image source: ICphoto

Chinanews client March 25th. According to the Malaysian Sin Chew Daily, badminton star Li Zongwei recently talked about his old rival Lin Dan as a good friend. He admitted that even if he missed the Tokyo Olympics, Lin Dan has nothing to regret, because he has won all the competition honors.

Speaking of Lin Dan's Olympic prospects, Li Zongwei said, "It is really difficult for the Chinese team to rank in the top two of the men's singles. I know how much he wants to realize his dream of participating in the 5 Olympic Games. He hopes to break this record (become China The first badminton player to participate in the 5th Olympic Games.) This will not be easy. The Olympic Games will be held once every 4 years. If you want to participate 5 times, this means that you must maintain the peak of the world badminton for more than 16 years. "

Data Map: Li Zongwei and Lin Dan. Photo by China News Agency reporter Long Yuyang

Nevertheless, Li Zongwei believes that even if Lin Dan misses the Olympic Games, he doesn't have to regret: "He has won all the competition honors, and there is no need to prove anything."

The current situation of Lin Dan's efforts to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics is not optimistic. In the previous men's singles world rankings released by the World Badminton Federation, the top two athletes of the Chinese Badminton Association are the fifth-ranked Chen Long and the ninth-ranked Shi Yuqi, and Lin Dan ranked 19th.

Originally, if Lin Dan could enter the top 16 in the ranking released on April 28th, then even if Chen Long and Shi Yuqi were ranked higher, Lin Dan theoretically still had hope of participating in the Tokyo Olympics. Because according to the rules, if an association has more than two athletes in the first 16 places, it is possible to abandon the high-ranked athletes and allocate the quota to the low-ranked athletes during the association's qualification confirmation stage.

Data Map: Li Zongwei and Lin Dan. Photo by Lu Ming, China News Agency

However, in the All England Badminton Open not long ago, Lin Dan failed to seize the opportunity. He stopped in the second round and did not get more Olympic points. Then the World Badminton Federation suspended it from March 16 to April 12. All BWF World Tour and other WBF approved events.

Now that the Tokyo Olympics are postponed to 2021, the Olympic points rules may change. If only looking at the current situation, Lin Dan wants only the theoretical hope to win the qualification for the fifth Olympic Games.

When asked about Lin Dan ’s retirement, Li Zongwei replied: “I do n’t know if he decides to retire. This is only news he can announce.” (End)