Throwback Thursday: 12 Years on the Sidelines, Veterans are Valuable Assets to the Team -- Zhang Chao and Hao Shuai

The preliminary round of the Chinese National Games has just ended. There might be games that introduce us to some new faces; there might be spectacular rallies that remind us the marvellous technique of the familiar faces. Today's Throwback Thursday features the 2 of the familiar faces, Zhang Chao and Hao Shuai.

The 'Six Little Dragons', (from the left) Zhang Chao, Shan Mingjie, Chen Qi, Wang Hao, Hao Shuai and Qiu Yike

Zhang Chao came into our notice when he medalled in the 2009 Worlds mixed doubles competition. He expanded his arsenal by winning the mixed doubles title in 2011 Worlds. However the mixed doubles champion was overshadowed by the great Olympic Champions and the emerging young stars in the team. With not much international assignments, Zhang Chao stayed on the sidelines in the national team till 2013 and then, he returned to Guangdong to played and coached in the provincial team. In the preliminary round of the Chinese National Games 2017, he is the anchor of Team Guangdong. Not only does he contribute victories to the team, he passes on valuable experience to his young teammates (Watch the interview subbed in English).

Many may have heard of Hao Shuai because of Michael Maze's amazing comeback in 2005 WTTC (watch here). Hao Shuai was one of the promising stars back in the days and participated in 2005,2007, 2009, 2011 and 2013 Worlds. Yet his mediocre performance in international competition (by the Chinese standard, he is great in many people's eyes) kept him from taking the leading position in the team. He is known as the 'Chinese Timo Boll' in the team because the left-handed Hao Shuai often imitates Timo Boll's playing style for the purpose of preparing the main players for the international competitions. In 2013, he left the national team but he did not retire immediately because he was going to work another 4 years to prepare for the Chinese National Games which will be held in his hometown, Tianjin.

In the preliminary round of the Chinese National Games, we could see the 'familiar faces' taking a different role. We find Chen Qi coaching Team Jiangsu, Qiu Yike following every moves of Zhu Yuling and Wang Hao giving advice to players of Team PLA. 4 years ago, Chen Qi and Qiu Yike played their curtain call in the Chinese National Games (they also played in that year's super league), while Wang Hao retired not long after the Games in 2014.  After their retirement, they have started their new career as provincial team coaches (Wang Hao is planning to applied for the post of national team coach, Shan Mingjie is the coach of Team Jiangsu). Many players of their time have either retired or have started a new career but Zhang Chao and Hao Shuai are still active in the competitive scene.

In the team events of the prelims of the Chinese National Games, Team Guangdong was hampered by Lin Gaoyuan's unexpected cramp. Fortunately, Zhang Chao, the 32-year old veteran, stepped in and led the young and inexperience team to qualify to the final stage of the Games. Zhang Chao also qualifies to the mixed doubles and men's singles. Hao Shuai from the host city, Team Tianjin qualifies to all 4 events, the men's team, men's singles, men's doubles and mixed doubles. It is quite an accomplishment for the veterans to make to the qualifications under such intense competition.

Zhang Chao and Hao Shuai have proved their value to the team in the preliminary round of the Chinese National Games but that is not their only contribution. Throwback Thursday brings us back to 2004 when Zhang Chao / Hao Shuai played a warm-up match with the 2004 Olympian Kong Linghui / Wang Hao. The warm-up match is the tradition of the Chinese National Team. Olympic or World Team members play matches against other national team members before the big meets to try out new skills and prepare their mentality for the upcoming international competitions. The success of the dominant Chinese team cannot do without the contribution of these nameless players.

2004 Olympics Warm Up Match -- Kong Linghui / Wang Hao Vs. Hao Shuai / Zhang Chao

This is the semi-finals of the men's doubles of the warm-up match. Unfortunately, the broadcast ends at the third set. At the end, Kong Linghui and Wang Hao won the match and beat Ma Lin/Chen Qi in the finals.

I hope you enjoy the Throwback Thursday series. Please leave comments and tell me what you are interested in. Follow the blog, there will be new Throwback Thursday every week.