China has consistently featured among the world's best mixed doubles badminton teams since the event was introduced to the Olympic Games in 1996.
But during the event's Olympic debut that year, two highly fancied Chinese pairs failed to live up to their billing by being eliminated in the semifinals.
Gao Ling (front) and Zheng Bo are China's major hopes to win mixed doubles gold at the Beijing Games. Gao is also seeking her third straight Olympic gold in the event.
China bounced back four years later at the Sydney Olympics where the less-fancied pair of Zhang Jun and Gao Ling (female) mounted the podium following a dramatic come-from-behind win in the final.
The almost unbeatable pair continued their dominance in Athens four years ago when they defended the gold medal.
After Athens, Zhang Jun, struggling with injury, suffered a form slump and was finally forced to retire early last year.
But Gao continued playing for the chance to win her third mixed doubles Olympic gold with new partner Zheng Bo.
Gao, now 29, and Zheng, three years her junior, won the mixed doubles title at the 2006 Doha Asian Games despite teaming up just three weeks beforehand.
The new pair was almost unstoppable in 2007 when they won six major international competitions.
Of all the 12 IBF Super Series stages in 2007, they stormed to seven wins.
However, they were surprisingly beaten in the final of the World Championships last August and since then have failed to impress in most tournaments.
During the 2008 season, they managed just one title - March's All England Super Series - frequently falling to less-fancied opponents.
"Sister Gao is much better than me in terms of achievements and experiences," Zheng said. "I did feel the pressure as her partner. I know I still have a lot to improve if we want to play the best teamwork. I hope the pressure will turn into inspiration and make me a better player."
Gao's former partner Zhang worries Zheng is too young to control his rhythm under the pressure of big tournaments.
"He is still young and tends to feel pressure. He's also not experienced enough, so the pair can't play very well when falling behind."
Mixed doubles team coach Chen Xingdong also singles out Zheng's mental fitness when asked about the pair's gold prospects in Beijing.
"The biggest chance we have to take is on Zheng Bo if we aim to win gold. He has to get mentally stronger under pressure and also he has to further polish his skills."
But the more mature Gao has tried to deflect blame from her younger partner and shoulder responsibility for the streak of poor form.
"I was feeling so tired since late last year. I did not play very well and I should take the responsibility for the disappointing losses," Gao said.
Gao, also the 2000 Olympics women's doubles bronze medalist and 2004 Athens Games silver winner, played more matches than anyone else at those tournaments.
But now focused exclusively on the mixed doubles, she believes her and her partner will soon get back on track.
"I will only compete in mixed doubles in the Beijing Games and that will make me 100 percent prepared for the mixed doubles," she said. "Zheng and I will tune up in the remaining time and try to get back to our best in time for the Beijing Games."
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)