I think "the theory" is that LGL was afraid that the loser in the final would be so down that he could play bad in the Team Competition and so China maybe could be a bit in danger.
So he talked with Wang Hao who is the older and the wiser and he thought that he was the one who could handle the defeat in final.
Again, I just repeat what I understood. I don't know what is true or not (I can't understand chinese).
Don't worry, I know what you mean.
To carry on this debate.
It doesn't matter who wins basically - ZJK or WH, so if things are fixed. Then does it matter who wins? They should focus on Teams event - included preserving energy levels.
Now back to my understanding.
This is not the first time LGL has talked about Wang Hao and about London 2012.
In this talk show, LGL is teaching/talking about standing up - after fallen. He talk about his personal life first - his 1996 olympic (lucky to get in), as well as his 1999 world champ and the build up to it - including his "near suspension" due to illegal substance from urine test.
As a player, he had to stand up after fallen hard many times in his career and it wasn't different after 2004 where a year into the job, he lead China to loose an Olympic Gold. They change the way they prepare for tournament from 2005 and in 2008, they won everything that was on offer.
Then he started to continue talking about Wang Hao and the direct word translation/mean is indeed a hint to Wang Hao to give the match to ZJK.
But I read it differently, as I have seen many interviews since 2012.
Before 2012, Wang Hao was in a slump. As a Wang Hao fan, i thought Ma Long would replace him with the "injury" card method.
ZJK's record against Wang Hao is also very clear. Wang Hao is the underdog.
LGL was trying to get 2nd place pressure out of Wang Hao and get him to play more openingly with less baggage.
LGL in previous interviews all told Wang Hao to let go, and I read the same "command" as the same. As Wang Hao has "lost" in his mind only, so the way I read it is that Wang Hao must not focus on loosing and even if he loose - there is nothing to be ashame about - the nothing to be ashame about is what I feel LGL is saying about "now this is your duty in national team" - no matter if he wins or loose, he must play good table tennis - similar to stories of LGL himself in that TV Show.
So after LGL shared his sentence of command to WH:
我说皓,你一定要做好以决赛输给张继科为荣,你必须调整好这样的心态,你王皓才有作用
LGL said, and Wang Hao did indeed loose (Chinese word used means- "indeed it really happened") to ZJK in the finals (meaning another 2nd place for WH)
所以下来,真的决赛中,王皓输给了张继科, but Wang Hao manage to handle the defeat and performed very well in Teams and Doubles -
但在团体赛中,王皓起到了中坚的作用,跟张继科继续配双打,获得了最后的胜利。我觉得王皓其实很勇敢,公心比私心强的多
So why did LGL share the story of WH? it is how he got up from falling again (2nd place) and did well in other events that was required of him.
This is the same "principle" as what LGL has shared about himself in that TV Show.
So for any doubters, please watch the entire TV Show + reserch Wang Hao's condition from news/interviews etc prior to 2012 as well as all LGL's words to encourage WH prior to 2012 and after.
If you picture this together, then I think it is clear that LGL was meaning something else - same as what I am refering too. LGL is talking about standing up after falling hard.
On a side note....
Wang Hao besides being a CNT student of LGL, is also team mate from the PLA (army club). LGL is Wang Hao's direct commander.....so imo if any match was due to be thrown - it will only make sense that Wang Hao gets his Grand Slam due to favouritism + age and to rest ZJK for the Teams and doubles...
It really doesn't make sense why LGL would fix it so ZJK wins...
If things was fixed, then WH should of getting 2008 already
ZJK even came out and said, if the match was fixed, why would he and WH argue with an umpire over 1 point?
Wang Hao didn't need to argue if it was fixed hey?