11/11/11 Li Yongbo Badminton School opens in Dongguan, China

In addition to representing two one’s, the number 11, in badminton, marks the point where a game has reached roughly halfway.  Now in addition, on the date 11/11/11, a brand new badminton academy, the Li Yongbo Badminton School, opened in Dongguan, China.  The academy will serve a dual purpose of accommodating the badminton needs of Dongguan City and also as a national team training base. Tang Xianhu, a former badminton great of a past era and member of Badminton Hall of Fame, will lead the school as the principal. Recently retired Bao Chunlai is rumoured to also become a teacher there.

The school opened in a traditional Chinese way, amid much fanfare, complete with a Lion Dance, and under the watchful eyes of Tang Xianhu and Li Yongbo. The Chinese national team were present to witness the opening of their new training base, and on a surprise note, 4 of badminton’s greatest players of the current era were present as well! The best of the best – Taufik Hidayat, Peter Gade, Lee Chong Wei and China’s very own Lin Dan, the 4 kings – had descended on Dongguan to help welcome the school and take part in the “Battle of the 4 Heavenly Kings” (四大天王争霸赛). Lin Dan walked away with a grand total of RMB 1 million while LCW took out RMB 400,000, Gade and Taufik taking RMB 200,000 each. ( See details here )

We in the badminton world can only hope that the opening of such a school on the auspicious day of 11/11/11 will help bring more prosperity to the sport in the future.