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Birmingham, England. Former world No. 1 Peter Gade issued a warning about the future of professional badminton on the eve of the All England Open. 

Gade, the only Westerner seeded in either singles event of the 100th championship starting today, is concerned that badminton is losing its global appeal and flavor. 

“It’s important to have a lot of different countries in the top game,” said the Danish star, who has often taken on the might of China alone. 

“It’s too narrow and we need a lot more players coming forward — we need youngsters from other countries coming up,” added Gade, whose All England title in 1999 happened in a year when the five titles went to players from five different countries. 

Last year, by contrast, all five titles went to China. It was the first time in the three decades of the open era that one country had achieved that. 

But at the age of 33, Gade has not ruled out winning the All England again, and he also offered hope to players from other countries. 

“Apart from Lin Dan, all the other Chinese players have been beaten,” the fifth seed said. 

“I have beaten them, and Lee Chong Wei has too. In a few years time, when Lin Dan is not there, it will be possible to do well against the Chinese. 

“He’s exceptional: he’s one of the best players ever in the history of badminton. Maybe the best. I have lost to him on a number of big occasions. If he had not been there — what might have happened?” 

Lin is seeded only second here, having missed the first two Super Series tournaments of the year. Lee, from Malaysia, is the top seed after winning in Seoul and Kuala Lumpur. 

But he was the top seed last year, too, and lost to Lin in straight games in the final. The Chinese left-hander will again be the unofficial favorite. 

If he does win, it will be Lin’s fifth All England title in seven years, making him the first men’s singles player to achieve that in the open era, and the first since Rudy Hartono, the legendary Indonesian, in the mid-1970s. 

This time, though, Lee’s coach, Misbun Sidek, thinks the Malaysian will be ready for the challenge after having practiced regularly against left-handers. 

“It’s not the same as playing Lin Dan, but it will help Chong Wei prepare,” Misbun said. “More importantly, Chong Wei must also stay focused when playing Lin Dan.” 

But Lee can’t afford to look ahead to Lin with a possible second-round match looming against Sony Dwi Kuncoro, the world bronze medalist from Indonesia. 

If Lee survives that, his quarterfinal opponent should be Jan Jorgensen, the young Dane who Gade thinks could succeed him at the top level. 

Gade has a probable quarterfinal with Taufik Hidayat, the former Olympic champion from Indonesia, with the winner probably meeting Lee. China’s top two players, Lin and Chen Jin, the 2008 All-England champion, should meet in the other semifinal. 



Agence France-Presse