World champion Zhu misses out as China eye three golds

By Liu Zhen

BEIJING (Reuters) - China's strength in depth enabled them to leave women's singles world champion and current world number three Zhu Lin out of the squad for next month's Beijing Olympics when it was named on Friday.

Xie Xingfang and Lu Lan, the top two in the world, were named in the women's team along with Athens gold medalist Zhang Ning. Lin Dan, Bao Chunlai and Chen Jin, three of the world's top four, make up the men's squad.

China, who will be defending the women's singles and doubles as well as the mixed doubles titles, will be looking to the badminton team to take a majority of the five gold medals up for grabs at the Beijing University of Technology Gymnasium.

"We must guarantee to win at least three gold medals," head coach Li Yongbo told the Beijing Evening Post. "We cannot win fewer than at the last Games."

Li said Zhu had not lost her place to 33-year-old Zhang Ning, who is ranked seventh in the world, but to 20-year-old Lu, who he said was selected because for her consistency, head-to-head record against major rivals and her youth.

"Zhu is very good in all aspects, but after all someone has to miss out on the Olympics," he said. "It would not be any surprise at all if Zhang Ning won the Olympics title again."

Athens women's doubles champions Yang Wei and Zhang Jiewen will defend their title and former men's doubles world champions Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng have also booked their spot in the team.

With her former partner Zhang Jun retired, Gao Ling has teamed up with Zheng Bo for her bid to win a third successive Olympic mixed doubles gold medal.