Chapter 20 8. I leave the Grand Slam to Guangzhou

In Doha in 2006, I missed the men's singles championship.When the 2010 Asian Games came to Guangzhou, the cry of "winning the Grand Slam" made my blood boil. Guangzhou Tianhe Gymnasium is the battlefield that I am most familiar with and the most intimate in all of China. In 2003, I won the China Open for the first time here. At the age of 20, Lin Dan still had nothing, no world champion title, and no Xie Xingfang. The whole world was waiting for me to conquer. Seven years later, when I returned to Guangzhou, the Tianhe Gymnasium, where I have left many memories, is no longer what it used to be.I hope to tell the world here: Lin Dan today is the only badminton grand slam in the world. Here, I want to complete the Olympic Games, World Championships, World Cup, Soviet Union Cup, Thomas Cup, All England Championships, and Asian Championships. , Asian Games champion in one of the Eight Grand Slams.I am the person with the most badminton titles on the planet.

The badminton competition of the Asian Games started in mid-November, and the Chinese team came to Guangzhou to prepare for the match at the end of October.At that time, Xie Xingfang had already worked in the volunteer department of the Asian Games Organizing Committee for a period of time. The volunteers called her "Xie Chu" or "Sister Fang", and she was also adapting to her new role.The opening of the Asian Games is coming soon, and she has worked very hard.Before entering the Asian Games Village, I didn't have many opportunities to meet Ah Fang, and only had one chance to eat seafood casserole porridge together.Since then, we have struggled on our respective "battlefields".On the volunteer message wall of the Tianhe Gymnasium, I wrote a sentence of "Come on, everyone" to everyone who has worked hard.Everyone, including myself and Ah Fang.

Four years ago, Taufik made me dream of Doha.Four years later, I would like to thank Lee Chong Wei.In Tianhe, he and I joined forces to dedicate a classic battle.After two years, from Beijing to Guangzhou, it is very exciting to have another home match against Li Zongwei. Although I have been a Grand Slam for a long time, people think that it is only perfect if I also have the men's singles championship in the Asian Games.This is a challenge for me.I need to realize my greater value and let everyone see that Lin Dan can do it.Finally, I achieved my wish in Guangzhou, leaving the perfection to the full audience and Tianhe Stadium, which has witnessed countless brilliance in my career.

Make a fist, shout, salute, throw your sneakers into the stands.All of this is very similar to Beijing on August 17, 2008.But here is Guangzhou, which has a different meaning to me, so the lucky Guangzhou audience also got my final jersey.Some people are curious: Why are all the things of such commemorative value given away?That's because I just want to share my happiness with everyone.Later, I counted. Since the quarter-finals of the men's singles, I have given away two towels, a pair of sneakers, and a jersey.Only the gold medal, I kept to myself. I was actually pretty excited that day.Because in 2008, although I represented China in the competition at home, I was still prepared in my heart that "it's best to win, and I will be scolded if I lose".But the Asian Games is different. I think this is an opportunity, although the opponent is still the same.I hope that I will go all out and not disappoint everyone's expectations.I want to prove to the world that I am the most valuable player in world badminton.What is the most valuable?It's just impossible to reproduce.So, when I was finally selected as the MVP (Most Valuable Player) of the Guangzhou Asian Games, I said to myself: "Lin Dan, you did it!"

A truly influential and valuable athlete does not lie in how much your advertising endorsement is worth, or how important you have won championships, but in that when you enter the arena and come to the stage that belongs to you, there are really many Fans like you, even your opponents and many media respect and recognize you. I want to thank Lee Chong Wei.The two of us played a big part in each other's lives.I have so many champions, without his appearance, it may become worthless.In a way, we made each other better.It is also because of our peak duels again and again, which promotes the sport of badminton, and makes more people like to watch Lin Dan and Li Zongwei, Li Zongwei and Taufik, Taufik and Lin Dan.

I remember that at the press conference after winning the Asian Games, a reporter from the United States asked me in Chinese: "Brother Lin Dan, you are so successful in badminton, so you plan to go to the United States to develop like Yao Ming and Sun Wen." Is it?" I joked at the time: "If you are willing to pay us dollars." The American reporter immediately said: "Then I will be your agent!" Just kidding, but what makes me happy is that more people are starting to pay attention to Lin Dan.Not only in China, not only in Asia, but the whole world began to be curious about this different Chinese boy. When they saw me, they also saw the sport behind me.For me and Lee Chong Wei, the London Olympics will be the most likely battle to create our own dynasty.The gold medal will definitely be won, but for me and him, after so many years of fighting in the badminton world, the result is no longer so important.