Badminton may not be popular in the US or in most countries of Europe but it is very popular in China and in most of Asia. The badminton venues are the first to sell out in Beijing having only less than 8000 seats available.

The top players are from China, led by the lovey-dovey Lin Dan and Xie Xinfang, ranked no.1 in Men’s Single and Ladies’ Single. Plenty of Chinese are seeded on top. And it seems like they’re going to sweep all titles.

But anything goes in this Olympics, just like the fancied jinx that none of the top seeds of the men’s single ever won the gold in Olympics history. In Athens, 10th ranked Ronald Susilo of Singapore, stunned top ranked Lin Dan. In Sydney, no.1 seed Taufik Hidayat was sent packing early. He later won it in Athens when was ranked in the middle.

My bets for this Olympics are:
MS – Taufik Hidayat (Indonesia)
WS – Xie Xinfang (China)
MD – Indonesia
LD – China
XD – Indonesia

I think this year’s battle will still be China vs Indonesia.

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3. Chinese Badminton Team In The 2008 Beijing Olympics
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