OLYMPICS : Facts and Figures Part II

Using chromosome speak, the Olympic Games are almost underway in the badminton events of XX singles and doubles, XY singles and doubles, and XX/XY doubles. However, there is another significant X and Y pattern at hand which is the competition between generations.

By Aaron Wong, Badzine Correspondent. Photos: Badmintonphoto (archives)

Badminton is the world's fastest racquet sport and there is no luxury of a bounce on the floor allowed for the projectile. Once it hits the floor, the point is won. Shuttlecock speeds are clocked at over 300km/h. There is a one-minute or at most a two-minute official break in the middle and in between sets. So we might assume that the tournament would be dominated by Generation Y, who are the athletes born since 1980.

More and more, however, this is not the case. Generation X, the players who are 28 years and older, are out in force at the Beijing Olympics. In fact, 28 is positively junior when compared with Jens Eriksen, who is presently 38. The great Dane is competing in his fourth Olympics, and only last year was ranked as high as world #2.

China’s Zhang Ning made her Olympic debut at age 29 in Athens and took home the top prize. It was a talking point for being an exception. After all, her three predecessors had all retired by age 26. But, players’ attitudes are changing with the times and spectators’ opinions ought to as well.

It appears increasingly fashionable and appealing to be older - or should we say wiser - and not just in the entertainment business, where "30 is the new 20" and "40 is the new 30".

Surveying the women's singles players, 7 of the top 15 are are "Gen X". That's practically half the group. In each of the three doubles categories, it was very tough just to qualify for the Olympics, yet Generation X is well represented there with players from Poland, Indonesia, Japan, and Malaysia (see list below).

It should now be a talking point in badminton that being highly competitive is not solely the domain of the youth. And being around 30 years old is hardly an excuse to not feel you are still in the race.

From a medal count point of view there is the argument that some countries may be relying too much on the "old guard". But as a picture of an individual spirit striving to be the best he or she can be, it something we can all cheer for especially as the Olympic motto is Citius, Altius, Fortius ("Swifter, Higher, Stronger").

“Youth rules!” You can always claim that in the long run. What is exciting is that the human body is lasting longer and reaching higher, and we can acknowledge that the 'Use By Date', 'Expiry Date', or 'Best Before Date' goal posts - call it what you will - have moved.

Here is a selection of Generation X players (name followed by age):

Women’s Singles:
Zhang Ning, China     33
Xu Huaiwen, Germany     33
Wang Chen, Hong Kong     32
Pi Hongyan, France     29
Tine Rasmussen, Denmark     29
Tracey Hallam, UK     33

Men’s Singles:
kenneth Jonasson, Denmark     34
Peter Gade, Denmark     31
Wong Choong Han, Malaysia     31

Women’s Doubles:
Yang Wei, China     29
Gail Emms, UK     30
Donna Kellog, UK     30

Men’s Doubles:
Jens Eriksen, Denmark     38
Martin Lundgaard Hansen, Denmark     35
Keita Masuda, Japan     29
Choong Tan Fook, Malaysia     32
Lee Wan Wah, Malaysia     32
Luluk Hadiyanto, Indonesia     29
Alvent Yulianto, Indonesia     28
Robert Mateusiak, Poland     32
Michal Andrzej Logosz, Poland     30
Lars Paaske, Denmark     32
Jonas Rasmussen, Denmark     30
Howard Bach, USA     29

Mixed Doubles:
Nova Widianto, Indonesia     30
Gao Ling, China     29
Nathan Robertson, UK     31
Anthony Clark, UK     30
Saralee Thungthongkam, Thailand     29
Flandy Limpele, Indonesia     34
Thomas Laybourn, Denmark     30

Badzine’s coverage of the Olympics is brought to you by YONEX

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