China badminton 'still strong' despite Asian Games slump

Nagoya: Despite China winning only two badminton golds at the Asian Games, the country's top-ranked badminton players insist their sport remains strong, according to reports from AFP. China's badminton team returned its lowest haul of gold medals in 24 years, with no Chinese representative in the men's or women's singles finals. The nation won two golds in the women's team event and mixed doubles, alongside three silvers and three bronzes.

Wang Chang, a beaten finalist, told AFP that while the country's dominance in singles events has waned, Chinese badminton players are still strong. "Traditionally, badminton has been China's strength. We have been at the top level in world badminton," he said. However, Wang noted that just because not all players win, it doesn't mean the athletes have become weak.

Marthin, a player from Indonesia who claimed the mixed doubles gold, believes China and Indonesia are currently evenly matched in strength. "We just want to be more confident now that we are at the same level," he added.

Other nations also secured two gold medals each at the Asian Games. Since China's home Asian Games three years ago, where they won four of the seven golds, the sport's governance in China has undergone significant changes. Recently, the country's new badminton chief vowed to tackle corruption after his predecessor was under investigation but disappeared from public view.

Two-time Olympic gold medallist Zhang Jun, formerly president of the Chinese Badminton Association, was accused in April of serious violations of discipline and law.