The following is the third of a series of articles on rival athletes in South Korea’s favorite events at the London 2012 Olympic Games. ―Ed.


The Korean badminton team has set its sight on two gold medals in the London 2012 Olympic Games ― one in the men’s doubles and the other in mixed doubles.

Of the two disciplines, the men’s double is more favored by Korea as it currently ranks No. 1.

On June 21, the six-year Korean duo of Lee Yong-dae and Jung Jae-sung topped the list of men’s doubles rankings announced by the Badminton World Federation. Their recapture of the top spot came about three years and three months since their one-week reign in March 2009.

Before surpassing China’s world champions Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng to top the world ranking, they overcame the summits of the All-England Open in March and then the Indonesia Open Super Series in June, clinching gold medals.

Lee and Jung, however, will be seeded as the No.1 pair, with Cai and Fu as No. 1, because Olympic qualifiers are seeded according to rankings as of May. But their retaking of No. 1 ahead of an Olympic showdown with the Chinese pair is significant.

“It will serve as a boost of confidence for them,” head coach Sung Hang-gook told reporters recently.

Four years ago, the Korean duo, then strongly favored to win a gold medal, were upset by the Dutch pair of Rasmussen Jonas and Paaske Lars in the first round in the Beijing Olympics. Lee saved his face by clinching the mixed doubles gold, but felt upset over the men’s doubles first-round loss.

In the four years since, they have gritted their teeth honing their skills and combination play in preparation for the London Olympics. The team once hit a snag when Jung’s back injury recurred this year, but he has completed rehab successfully.

Lee and Jung, first paired together in 2006, have a closely knitted partnership.

The 23-year-old Lee, for one, shot to stardom after winning the mixed doubles in the Chinese capital, and seeks a double gold crown in London this time ― in the men’s doubles and the mixed doubles.

Their second Olympic Games as doubles partners will be their last, with the 29-year-old Jung eyeing retirement from international play after London.

Standing in their quest for the Olympic title are the No. 2-ranked Chinese duo, who came together in 2004 and won the men’s doubles silver medal in the Beijing 2008 Olympics.

Cai, 32, and Fu, 28, are just as eager for the Olympic gold after losing the final round in Beijing to Indonesia’s Markis Kido and Hendra Setiawan, who did not qualify for the London Games.

The popular Chinese pair are four-time world champions and two-time All-England winners. The London Games will be their third Olympic journey. In 2004, they were stopped in the top-eight round.

The Korean and Chinese duos have clashed with each other 21 times on the international stage from their first encounter in 2007 until the All-England Open in March. Lee and Jung lead Cai and Fu by 11 wins and 10 losses, but the one-win gap is too thin for the Koreans to take comfort.

In contrast to previous Olympic badminton competitions, the London Games will witness the debut of a new format, to be played on two stages ― group play and knock-out stages. All 16 qualifying teams will be divided into four groups during the July 23 draw, and the top two pairs will advance to the elimination round.

If Lee and Jung enter the knock-out stage, they are likely to clash with Cai and Fu.

The Chinese pair is evaluated to have an upper hand in defense because a right-handed Cai and a left-handed Fu can combine to cover a larger area in defense against Lee and Jung, both right-handed. The Chinese team’s strength comes mostly from Fu’s smash, which be up to a maximum of 332 kilometers per hour, and Cai’s smart net play.

“Cai and Fu are older than Lee and Jung so they are likely to tire faster,” Sung said. “So we need a long rally to wear them out.”

By Chun Sung-woo (swchun@heraldcorp.com)