A great show: Zhao Jianhua imparting his knowledge to 52 players and coaches at a BWF training clinic on the sidelines of the World Junior Championships 2024. - BWF website
PETALING JAYA: Lanky Zhao Jianhua was one of China's former greats before the emergence of Lin Dan.
After many years staying below the radar, Jianhua, who has won almost every other major titles during his era in 80s and early 90s, including lifting the 1991 world title, had finally showed up to conduct a two-day training clinic for juniors at the World Junior Championships in Nanchang, China recently.
According to an article released in the Badminton World Federation (BWF) website on Thursday (Nov 7), Jianhua had imparted his knowledge to 52 players and coaches.
Jianhua and another former star Yang Yang were players that Lin Dan had looked up to before he went on to rule the world with his multiple world, Olympics and Open titles.
What is Jianhua's perception on Lin Dan?
"I do see a bit of myself in Lin Dan in terms of his aggressiveness on court," said Jianhua in a special interview with the BWF staff writer.
"Lin Dan is Lin Dan, he has his own aura, but definitely I do see myself in him."
Although he is not the same stout player he used to be, Jianhua it seemed had showed some of his skills that earned gasps from the young players.
And he had some tips for them.
"You must make the shuttle listen to you," said Jianhua.
"It's a lot of routine training. Even when there's drift you can still make shuttle listen to you but you have to adjust. In normal conditions, you can make the shuttle do what you want, but in difficult conditions you can adjust, that's what it takes to be a top player."
"There are technical and physical aspects which combine to make you a top level player.
"Sometimes it can get boring, but if you have passion for this career, you need to accept this and give more than 100 per cent in your daily training.
"I want to highlight that for every stroke there's an objective, there's a reason to be executing a stroke."
And what was Jianhua's memorable outing as a player, he said it was winning his first big title by beating Morten Frost of Denmark in the 1985 All-England final.
"That was the most memorable one. It was my first big international title, so a lot of emotions, it brings a lot of memories."
"My toughest opponent was myself. The second toughest was also myself. If you play what you are capable of, you can beat anyone."
