Kuala Lumpur, May 12: China are set to unleash a new wave of players kept under wraps so far, after the Olympic Games in September.

Though it is difficult to squeeze any information from the Chinese officials, a source close to the Chinese badminton team said shuttlers like Dai Yun and Ye Zhaoying are being constantly beaten by a new wave of younger players back in China.

He said even world No. 1 doubles pair Ge Fei-Gu Jun are also being beaten by this new wave.

"There are so many young and talented Chinese men and women shuttlers that it is difficult for the best to stay at the top for more than a year," said the source.

He added that Dai Yun and Zhaoying have not been pushed out despite lagging behind the new players because they have garnered enough points to qualify for the Olympics.

"This is why they are still in the Chinese team. Only shuttlers like Zhang Ning, Gong Zhichao and Gong Ruina are still faring well enough to keep the youngsters at bay," he said, adding that China could see a new-look team before the end of the year.

The source said China wants to maintain its stranglehold in the women's category for as long as it can, because, Malaysia, Indonesia and Denmark could trouble their men's team.

He also added that China will start sending the new breed of shuttlers to grand prix tournaments soon after the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

China in the ongoing Thomas and Uber Cups have been the most difficult team from which to pry information.

They have refused to talk to the press and carry out their activities secretively.

However, the source said China wants to come out with a bang after the Sydney Olympic.