Coach fires warning as China hails new dynasty

BEIJING, May 8 (Reuters) China's delight at sweeping the world team championships at the weekend was tempered by a warning from the men's coach that their success will ultimately be judged on home soil at the Beijing Olympics in 2008.

After the women had justified their favourites tag by claiming a fifth successive Uber Cup with victory over the Dutch on Saturday, the men whitewashed European powerhouse Denmark to win the Thomas Cup for a sixth time yesterday.

''Six-times champions restore the dynasty!'' trumpeted the headline in today's Beijing News, which went on to say: ''The lads of the Chinese team have made it. Along with the invincible women's team, the badminton world is now dominated by China.'' The China Youth Daily referred to the new scoring format formerly adopted on Saturday, which is aimed at shortening matches and some thought would work against the top nations.

''21-point system can't stop the birth of a Chinese dynasty in international badminton,'' read its headline.

The euphoria was echoed by the men's team's coach, Li Yongbo, who told the Beijing News he planned to drink champagne out of the Thomas Cup.

''We'll be taking turns drinking champagne from the cup, I've already sent someone to get some! But the real celebrations will happen at home,'' he said.

Li, however, reminded his players that success brought its own pressures and that would only escalate in the lead up to the 2008 Summer Games.

''Everything starts from here, we still have many challenges to overcome,'' Li added.

''The country's expectations of us grow larger and larger ... So there's a lot of pressure on us.

''Even if we earn over 100 championships, if we don't perform to perfection at the Beijing Olympics, I'll be very regretful.'' World number one Lin Dan's singles victory over Peter Gade avenged his defeat at the China Masters in March and set his country on their way to victory yesterday.

The confident 22-year-old, dubbed ''Super Dan'', believes he has found the secret to beating top-ranked European Gade, the world number three.

''I've already worked out how to master his game, which is to break up his constant, rapid attacking,'' Lin told the paper.

''So long as I stick to this strategy, I believe next time we meet I'll beat him in the same way.'' REUTERS AY PM1701