Tougher rivals on the way

Contrasting Gao and Zheng's slumping form in past months has been the blistering performances of emerging rivals.

Title favorites Widianto Nova and Natsir Liliyana from Indonesia leapfrogged Gao and Zheng as the world's best pair at the Singapore Super Series last week and followed their win at last year's World Championships.

"There are stronger opponents in the Beijing Games. Our advantage does not exist any more," admitted head coach Li Yongbo.

Joining Nova and Liliyana as major threats to China's dominance are fellow Indonesians Limpele Flandy and Marissa Vita (rated fourth) and England's Nathan Robertson and Gail Emms (sixth), as well as Thailand's Prapakamol Sudket and Thoungthongkam Saralee, the world No 7s who won April's Asian Championships.

(China Daily June 27, 2008)