The soon-to-retire former world No 1 Peter Gade is one of the all-time greats because of this longevity, according to Lee Chong Wei, the Games' top seed. He remains in the top five after more than a decade-and-a-half among the elite.

However the 35-year-old Dane has more than just the effects of age to face in a climax to an international career which started in 1994 and includes an All-England title in the last millennium. "There have been a lot of things going on, issues in private, which meant I knew it was a question of how much time I had," Gade said. "I knew this would come – and it came at the beginning of the new year."

Gade was fortunate to have qualified for the Games already. However when his form dipped during 2012, he slipped just outside of the top four seeding places which usually offer a more favourable route to the semifinals. The causes of his drop-off also included a series of injuries, especially a long-lasting foot problem which may not quite have disappeared.

"I will be humble enough to say I can't rule out any of the emotions I might have," Gade said of an Olympics which will be a career celebration for him, irrespective of results and despite the domestic upheaval.

Gade's other obstacles are better known: three rivals as strong as any in the history of the game, including one he regards as the finest player of all time. The first two are Malaysia's Lee, the recently deposed, long-time world No 1, and Taufik Hidayat, the former Olympic and world champion from Indonesia.

The third is Lin Dan, China's reigning Olympic title-holder who won perhaps the greatest world final ever last August at Wembley, where he saved two match points against Lee in the Olympic arena.

"Lin Dan has been the one," Gade said. "He is, for me, by far the best men's singles player we have ever seen. I don't know him well, but I would like to. There is something special in the air when we meet, a kind of respect.

"He doesn't speak English – or at least he won't. I can't speak with him but I feel mutual respect. And an understanding that you knew what the other one was going through.

"Only a few players have experienced the kind of pressure we have. And that's why we have a special understanding."

That understanding is strong enough, whatever the language problem, for Lin to have accepted an invitation to play in Gade's last tournament, the Copenhagen Masters in December. "But there won't be another big tournament for me after these Olympics," Gade said. "This is about taking what I can – one last time for body and mind, and see what happens.

"I can't have regrets, or any second thoughts about it. I will try and it feels good. It feels like this is the right time."

Article by AFP, Photo by BadmintonPhoto