Category — Badminton

China’s answer to the U.S. victories in the Olympic swimming pool on Day 7 came from weightlifting, judo, and the badminton duo of Yu Yang and Du Jing who beat South Korea’s Lee Hyo-jung and Lee Kyung-won to pocket the gold, China’s 26th overall, in women’s badminton doubles.

So what’s the gold medal race like at the end of Day 7? It’s China with 26 golds and the U.S. with 14 golds.

Photo: xinhua via beijing2008

Re-live Indonesian Taufik Hidayat’s gold medal win over South Korea’s Shon Seung Mo in this video of the 2004 Olympics badminton finals. Taufik is going to defend his title in Beijing as Indonesia is fielding him again. Fellow countryman Sony Dwo Kuncoro will join him in the singles competition.

According to the Badminton World Federation, the following men’s doubles and mixed doubles teams have earned tickets to Beijing: Markis Kido/Hendra Setiawan, Luluk Hadiyanto/Alvent Yulianto, Nova Widianto/Lilyana Natsir and Flandy Limpele/Vita Marissa.

Meanwhile, Maria Kristin Yulianti will carry Indonesia’s banner in the women’s singles. Vita Marissa/Lilyana Natsir will do the same in women’s doubles.

Because Olympic badminton gold medalist Zhang Ning is not part of the Chinese team going to the Uber Cup in Jakarta, does this mean that she will not be chosen to represent her country this coming Olympics? Badzine speculates.

Photo credit: badzine