Il Nuovo Postiglione - China badminton 'still strong' despite Asian Games slump

Adding to the sense that China's grip on the sport is loosening, no Chinese player was involved in either singles final in Nagoya.

China won two badminton golds in Japan -- in the women's team event and mixed doubles -- along with three silvers and three bronze.

While still a respectable tally by many standards, that represents the country's fewest number of golds since 2002.

"Of course not," Wang said, asked by AFP if the gap between China and the rest had shrunk.

"Traditionally, badminton has been China's strength. We have been at the top level in world badminton.

"We haven't won gold in singles events but that doesn't mean that the players have become weak."

Wang, the men's doubles world champion, and playing partner Liang Weikeng lost their final in three games to Indonesia's Daniel Marthin and Leo Rolly Carnando.

China's women's doubles pairing were also beaten in their final.

"Not all the strong players will win, but Chinese players are still strong," Wang said.

Marthin believes that "China and Indonesia are equal in strength".

"We just want to be more confident now that we are at the same level," he said.

Like China, Indonesia and South Korea also won two golds in Nagoya.

At their home Asian Games three years ago, China won four of the seven golds up for grabs in badminton.

Since then there has been a major shake-up in the governance of the sport in the country.

This month, China's new badminton chief vowed to crack down on corruption after the man he replaced was put under investigation and hasn't been seen in months.

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

The phrase is commonly used in China when referring to corruption.

E.Spicuzza--INP