LEE Zii Jia

Fans have been banging the drum about Zii Jia’s potential for years and in 2021 with his triumph at the All England there was a feeling that he had truly cemented his place as one of the best MS in the world. During 2022 the maverick talent that is LEE Zii Jia has been on an intense roller coaster. Supporters have relished sweet victories against a background of severe challenges and ferocious criticism.

LZJ is a thrilling athlete to watch on court. His attack-minded approach is electrifying as he has the raw power to overwhelm all but the best defences. His great racket skills allow him to execute the orthodox strokes but also liberate him to use his distinctive shots too. Best known of course is his backhand smash with pirouette. Backhand with added ballet is a showstopper; the velocity that the shuttle attains as it flies cross-court is sensational. It could be risky: he has his back to his opponent, he must regain balance quickly and it goes cross-court, but its effectiveness is obvious. He loves to get angles and pace working to undo adversaries.

His more unorthodox shots are at the heart of his authentic badminton self. His jumping net kill seems an unnecessary use of energy – why jump? But his control at the net can often open up his opportunities to hit hard. His unique style of jump smash really does seem to give him something extra. I spotted he was not fully following through with his racket arm but there is more to his action than that. Some commentators liken it to a volleyball-style spike and there does seem to be similarities in the way that body weight is used to generate power. The bottom line is that the menace and strength he can summon up are fearsome.

He faced a huge risk to his career when he chose to become an independent player. He offered his resignation to BAM in mid-January and sparked a furore that ran out of control and threatened his future in the game. His decision to sever ties with his country’s badminton association initially led to a two-year ban and the prospect of a dazzling career destroyed became real for a time.

Thankfully, after an uncomfortable stalemate, they brokered a compromise, and he continued on his path. It was a bold step that mirrored Viktor Axelsen’s split from Badminton Denmark a few months earlier. Axelsen observed that players must do what is best for themselves. Everyone knows that these two players have been nurtured by their home associations from an early age and it is notable that they are world #1 and #3 with an identical goal of Olympic Gold in Paris 2024.

Fan’s opinions of his best matches invariably highlight Malaysia’s 2022 Thomas Cup campaign. Zii Jia was dynamite in his games. He demolished Momota in ¾ of an hour to lay the foundation for his team to top their group. In the QF against India, Lakshya Sen could not contain him after losing a tight first set and was dispatched in the second. May 2022 saw him hit a purple patch with the Gold medal at the Badminton Asia Championships, and the title at the Thailand Open.

His rivalry with Axelsen often inspires his best performances. At the Indonesia Open this year, his battle with Viktor in the SF is regarded as the game of the tournament. The All England SF in 2020 was a heavy-duty clash over 3 sets in which the Dane eventually won; the return fixture the following year in the 2021 All-England Final was a different story and proved Zii Jia’s progress. An extraordinary first set was secured 30-29, set two lost 20-22 but LZJ won his first Super 1000 title in the third. Attack, stamina, and mental strength got him to the top of the podium. This dual has a way to unfold yet.

He wasn’t at his best at the recent World Championships – citing injury and stress – but there’s no doubt that he will arrive in Europe refreshed and refocused ready to claim more points towards his goal of being World #2 by the end of the year. Planning training sessions with Viktor and Anders Antonsen is a declaration of intent from an ambitious competitor. Provided he is not overburdened by expectations there are no limits to the results his maverick brilliance could achieve. This is a player who can hear history calling.

If you enjoyed this, then take a look at my article about PearThin https://womensbadminton.co.uk/2021/11/21/pearly-tan-thinaah-muralitharan/

Women’s Singles: From Chinese monopoly to the most competitive discipline in badminton.

By Aakash Joshi

My first memory of watching badminton was as a young kid at my uncles’ house. It was the 1999 World Championship final between DAI Yun and Camilla Martin; sensationally the Dane scored a rare victory in a sport dominated by Chinese players. Martin was the first woman to consistently challenge this. In 2000 at the Sydney Olympics, it was Martin who was fighting the Chinese dominance of women’s singles. She battled GONG Zhichao in the final but had to settle for Silver. In Athens 2004 I distinctly remember the match between Mia Audina and ZHANG Nin won by the Chinese athlete in the third set after losing the first. So, my earliest recollections of women’s singles is a sector where China was the superior force.

Fast forward to the 2008 Olympics. I was in class 9 when I watched Beijing’s grand opening ceremony and started to understand the gravitas of the Games. I heard about Saina Nehwal – a young 16-year-old from Hyderabad – I remember that third round match against WANG Chen. No Indian player had reached beyond round of 16 in Olympics and here she was, defeating a world top 5 player in three sets. I was curious. I started watching other matches to see if she could win a medal. I prayed that Saina should get Yulianti and avoid Tina Baun. Yes, Saina Nehwal did get Indonesia’s Maria Yulianti in the QF. It was a real rollercoaster of a game. Saina won the first set in extra points, lost set 2 easily and had a lead of 11-3 in final but it was not to be, and she lost 21-15 in the end.

It was the era of “Saina versus China,” and I followed her progress everywhere. I saw her winning the first prestigious super series 2009 in Indonesia – in front of a crazy Istora Senayan – defeating another Chinese player WANG Lin over 3 sets. Then came the Hyderabad world championship: Saina reached the QF but on this occasion lost to WANG Lin.

It was 2010 and Saina was flourishing. She won 2 SuperSeries tournaments (India Open & Singapore Open), retained her Indonesia Open title and had made it to world #2. Although seeded 2 for the Paris World Championships, she lost in the QF, this time to Chinese WANG Shixian in two straight games. Her focus was shifting to her first multi sporting event – the Commonwealth Games in Delhi. I saw her winning that gold medal from WONG Mew Choo of Malaysia in three hard fought sets. It was a momentous day for Indian badminton.

China dominated the 2011 World Championships winning all five gold medals. Saina expected to do well in London but lost in the quarters again to the Chinese: this time it was tricky WANG Xin who annihilated her in two games. I saw the brilliance of ZHAO Yunlei winning two medals: a gold and a silver. ZHAO for me is one of the greatest players of all time – the only player to have won two Golds at the same Olympics.

London 2012 and Saina arrived in the UK in superb form with a win at the Thailand Open and a third Indonesia Open victory. She got a straightforward draw until the quarters where she faced tricky Tina Baun. That day she won the first game easily, lost momentum in the second game and I switched off the TV. After 3 minutes I saw the news “Saina in Semis of Olympics games” . As a fan, that day in August is a special day in my life. Knowing Saina had a patchy record against the Chinese I still hoped that after breaking the QF barrier she would give a good fight to top seed WANG Yihan like 2011 Super Series finals, but it was not to be. WANG Yihan had other plans. She was untroubled by Saina in both set s 21-13,21-13. Saina then played bronze medal against WANG Xin. WANG Xin started controlling the pace of the match but soon Saina fought back. When Wang Xin fell, initially, I thought it was a tactic to take a break, but no, it was seriously injury, and the game was ended by WANG Xin’s retirement. When the greatest badminton player of all time – LI Lingwei – presented the medal to Saina, I could not hold back my tears. ZHAO Yunlei won two Golds (XD & WD) in London, the only player to have achieved this at the same Olympics.

Although China won Gold and Silver in the Women’s Singles in London, looking back it was the last time Chinese athletes dominated that sector. Suddenly, women players from around the world were challenging for the most prestigious honours.

2013 was a watershed year and the World Championships in Guangzhou epitomized this. On grand finals day with 11000 spectators shouting “Jiayou!” to LI Xuerui, I thought that the young Ratchanok would falter but it was not the case: she was trailing 19-12 but played a net shot to force a lift from LI X. It was just out at the back line and the deceptive Thai started her show. She won that set 22-20, lost the momentum in the second but in third game she controlled her lead and won the match 21-14. On the biggest stage China lost the gold medal to a young Thai girl.

That triumph provided the headlines but if we look a little deeper into the tournament there were other signs that China’s supremacy in WS was being dispelled. P V Sindhu defeated two Chinese opponents back-to-back (WANG Yihan & WANG Shixian) to clinch Bronze; now she has gone on to win a total of five World Championship medals. The stand-out QF for me was the thrilling match between Ratchanok and Carolina Marin. The young Marin lost in three tight sets but has gone on to win the tournament three times, as well as numerous Superseries events and 2016 Olympic Gold.

I have watched greats come and go. I saw the utter dominance of China but the 2013 World Championships and the arrival of Ratchanok, Carolina Marin and Sindhu changed the landscape of Women singles. Later that year an unseeded 16 year-old became the first Japanese woman athlete to win the Japan Open. Akane Yamaguchi stunned the world with her victory over the up-and-coming TAI Tzu Ying; now she is reigning two times World Champion and TAI Tzu Ying has held the World #1 spot for Taiwan for longer than 200 weeks.

Badminton in Women singles is no longer China vs China. Over the past few years, it has become the most diverse group among all 5 disciplines. However, with CHEN Yu Fei winning Gold at the Tokyo Olympics, HE Bing Jao an ever present top ten player and the rise of WANG Zhi Yi and HAN Yue it is arguable that the fightback is on, and the Chinese team are trying their best to reclaim their dominance.

Follow Aakash on Twitter for more Badminton analysis @Badminton1993

If you enjoyed this take a look at this article about Saina Nehwal https://womensbadminton.co.uk/2019/10/08/indias-saina-nehwal-trailblazer-legend/

Badminton World Championships Preview: Part 2

China’s athletes have the potential to win both titles in the women’s sector plus XD as well. However, nothing is certain except that this tournament promises outstanding matches between players with sublime skills. This really is a meeting of all the talents so jump on the emotional rollercoaster and enjoy the ride!

Women’s Singles – Beware Marin Incoming!

The million dollar question is how Carolina Marin is feeling? Have her injuries and recovery diluted her game. If she is 100% then everyone should fear her return because she will be hungry for the fight. Her aggression and knack of scoring sequences of points can be overwhelming. In the opposite side of the draw to CHEN YuFei and TAI Tzu Ying she will be determined to do everything she can to meet one of them in the final.

Akane Yamaguchi is looking to retain her title although in her first match she will likely face Gregoria Tunjung who has beaten her twice in a row recently in Malaysia. She is enduring a bit of a slump in form and has a very tough draw considering she is seeded 1. Having said that, she is the current All England Champion and I expect that her extraordinary court coverage, grit and resilience will get her through most matches successfully.

CHEN YuFei is seeded 4 but who can stop her advancing to the Gold? She is an expert at frustrating her opponents and forcing errors since she excels at reducing their opportunities to score. She combines this with an ability to accelerate her own scoring at key times in the match. She is seeded to meet Pornpawee in R16 and I think this could be a tricky encounter if Mew stays aggressive and is able to impose her own tempo on play. If YuFei prevails then a QF against Ratchanok Intanon is on the cards. May will typically be provoked by CYF into risky shots but her death or glory approach under pressure could backfire. If Ratchanok can hold her nerve and triumph, then we could be looking at the 32^nd edition of the #MayTAI.

If TAI Tzu Ying is allowed to play her way then she could upgrade her World Championships Silver from Huelva. Millions of fans will be hoping that this is the year her brilliance earns Gold. She has proven before that she can use patience to defeat CHEN YuFei but as usual she is going to have to eradicate errors and loss of focus. AN Se Young is still a little prone to fatigue based injury after a succession of tough matches but she is also ambitious for the big titles.

Women’s Singles promises stellar clashes beginning from R64. Although China’s Chen YuFei is hot favourite, her compatriots HE Bingjiao and WANG Zhiyi could both travel deep into the competition.

Women’s Doubles

The battle hardened pair of CHEN Qing Chen and JIA Yi Fan should seize their opportunity to defend their title and win the Gold again. This sector feels quite open as it’s in a transition phase with some players on the cusp of retirement whilst others need to step up a level with an eye on the future. The main threat to their quest for a hat-trick of Golds will come from the Japanese and Korean pairs. LEE/SHIN (Silver 2021) could derail them at the SF stage whilst a possible final against Hirota/Fukushima (3, yes three Silvers) or KIM/KONG looms. FukuHiro have shown the strength of their partnership throughout Hirota’s injury crisis and this competition on home soil could be a great chance to put past Tokyo disappointments behind them. My possible dark horses to overachieve would be the Malaysian pair of Pearly TAN and Thinaah Muralitheran. They’ve just won at the Commonwealth Games, are continuing to improve, and will be arriving on court full of confidence.

Mixed Doubles

The magnificent partnership of HUANG Yaqiong & ZHENG Siwei belongs at the top of the podium. They arrive in Japan in red-hot form and should be looking to complete their hat-trick of World Championship titles. One of the pairs standing in their way are compatriots and Olympic winners HUANG Dongping and WANG Yilyu. Owing to the seeding only one of these teams can get to the final. The defending champions from Thailand Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Sapsiree Taerattanachai could find themselves in a semifinal with Yuta Watanabe and Arisa Higashino. It’s difficult to foresee a final that doesn’t include two pairs from these four however I think Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue could disrupt Yuta and Arisa’s campaign. The French couple are on an determined trajectory towards the Paris Olympics so will expect to be still scrapping for points on finals weekend.

China’s players could win all of these titles but it would also be true to say that Japan has the personnel to equal that and they have home advantage. The World Championships 2022 is overflowing with awesome players in every sector – it’s going to be a fantastic tournament.

If you enjoyed this then take a look at Part 1 of my preview which looks at the men’s sector https://womensbadminton.co.uk/2022/08/18/badminton-world-championships-preview-part-1-the-men/

Badminton World Championships Preview Part 1: The Men

The annual battle for the title of World Champion is about to get underway in Tokyo. I’m anticipating some exhilarating triumphs, a few shocks and plenty of fun along the way. Grab your popcorn and get ready to enjoy the best badminton on the planet.

Men’s Doubles

With no clear frontrunner for Gold this promises to be a compelling contest. Speed Kings beware! the playing hall is likely to be slow and they must have a Plan B or a Plan C if opponents give them a bumpy ride.

The draw is difficult for the three highest ranked Indonesian pairs – they are all in the top half – so there is real risk they will be toe-to-toe towards the end of the tournament. If it unwinds as per seedings then world #1 Kevin Sukamuljo and Marcus Gideon could face Fajar Alfian & Muhammad Rian Ardianto in the QF. Whoever controls the tempo, and the net has the best chance of making the SF. When Kevin unleashes his creative energy anchored by Marcus they are unstoppable. I hope to see Sukamuljo back to his irrepressible self – that cheeky, annoying, talented athlete who can do anything with a shuttle, seemingly without trying. The sky’s the limit so long as these two get into their flow. Nevertheless FajRi have a great chance of Gold, they live under less under the microscope than the Minions and have had an uneventful build-up – unlike Marcus who is recovering from surgery and Kevin who is celebrating his engagement to Valencia. All four players must minimise errors and get comfortable with the drift early on to build a winning momentum.

Two of the most successful players ever at the WC are Hendra Setiawan (4 Golds) and Mohammad Ahsan (3 Golds) seeded 3 with a bye in R1; lets see how their old bones hold up to sustained physical pressure over successive days. If they avoid injury, they are the equal of any pair and I would love to see them on the podium.

If Indonesia misses out on the title, then it could be coming to India’s Rankireddy/Shetty. They won Commonwealth Gold without dropping a set so will arrive in Tokyo full of self-belief. There is a strong Danish influence in their camp, and they credit Boe with giving them a more tactical approach to matches. They will need to raise their game at this event, but they were also part of India’s victorious Thomas Cup team and have proven that they can seize wins under pressure. A QF against defending champions Hoki/Kobayashi is on the horizon and there is no way they will be dismissed in two sets.

Plenty has been written about Aaron Chia and SOH Wooi Yik and the semi-final hoodoo. They have fallen at that hurdle 6 times recently and according to their seeding the likelihood is that the pattern will repeat. There were occasions at the Commonwealth Games when the partnership looked flat so the challenge for them is to reignite their spark in the course of the early rounds to advance. LEE Yang and WANG Chi-Lin have suffered the classic dip in focus that is often experienced by Olympic champions. They too must revitalise their all-energy style if they want to get beyond a QF with the Malaysians.

At the opposite end of the scale in terms of intensity are the Danish duo Kim Astrup & Anders Skaarup Rasmussen. Their passion drives them onwards and I think they will blaze their way through the early rounds until they run out of steam. I’m ready for a possible semi-final with Kevin and Marcus or FajRi and it’s not impossible to see them as outsiders for a medal.

Men’s Singles: Viktor Rules OK?

Owing to the dominance of Viktor Axelsen some dismiss this sector as boring and repetitive but I completely disagree. Nothing stays the same in sport, eventually someone will find a weakness to exploit. There’s an excitement around all his matches as we wait to see who will dare to trespass upon his unbeatable aura. Badminton Insight analysed Axelsen’s play on their YouTube channel and they explain how he closes out results so successfully.

Viktor is on an incredible winning streak but rivals can take heart from the fact that he was outperformed by LOH Kean Yew in the first round last year. It’s possible to unsettle him but who has the nerve and the patience to do it?

LEE Zii Jia sacrificed Commonwealth Games participation to recuperate from his hip injury and focus on preparation for this tournament. He is like a human hand grenade with sudden explosive power that he can detonate anywhere on court. I’m sure that he has the desire and stamina to get to the final and win. I’m nervous about a possible QF against Momota or Sen though because they are both very canny players. If he is allowed to rampage he can demolish an opponent but they are capable of containing and frustrating him.

Over the past 18 months Lakshya Sen has consistently shown that he can beat anyone on the tour. Training in Dubai with Viktor had a huge impact on his game. He’s removed impetuous errors that could derail a game and replaced them with patience and tactical nous. He is astute at his game management, really good at balancing attack with defence and reduces opponents options for victory. He’s the newly anointed Commonwealth champion and India’s best chance of the title.

Anthony Ginting has the most horrific draw of any of the top seeds; it’s so bad it’s hardly worth being seeded. I hope he can progress but he will probably have to overcome Rasmus Gemke and SHI YuQui to earn the right to face Viktor in a QF. His form has been steadily improving so perhaps he can fight his way through. Jonatan Christie looks to have a smoother path in the early stages and is slated to face CHOU Tien Chen in a QF.

The random variable in this competition is SHI YuQui. None of us know what to expect from this lovable, enigmatic player after his enforced break. He has struggled to hit previous heights since the ankle injury back in 2019 but he’s back, no-ones played him for a while so he might spring some surprises. If things go well for him (and badly for Ginting) he could face Viktor in the QF. An appearance in the final would be the stuff of dreams.

Three players who at present seem to be struggling with focus or form are defending champion LOH Kean Yew, Kento Momota (winner 2018 & 2019) and Anders Antonsen. All three of them could put together a good run of results and be on the podium; the most likely being Momota who competed well at the Malaysia Open.

So, who can beat Viktor?

Badminton at The 2022 Commonwealth Games

This is always a lively tournament despite -or perhaps because- some of the big guns from the badminton world are missing. Like the Olympics it’s only held every four years and there’s an exquisite pressure when national prestige is added into the mix.

Some performances really stand out. India’s haul of 3 Golds was exceptional. Sindhu, Sen and Rankireddy/Shetty ruled finals day with a self-belief and swagger that was unstoppable. These athletes have delivered gold when the weight of expectation was heaviest.

In the singles competition there was an opportunity for a Golden Indian double. First up PV Sindhu faced Canadian Michelle Li. Sindhu is a renowned big game player with notable successes in all the blue riband competitions and she arrived on court prepared to unleash her power game. She was uncontainable and dispatched LI in two sets. In the Men’s Singles Lakshya Sen was the hot favourite for the title and he came from behind in his debut Commonwealth Games to beat Ng.

PV Sindhu with GOLD.
Screenshot courtesy BBC

In Mixed Doubles the Singaporean couple Terry HEE and Jessica TAN got the first Gold of the day in two sets. Their attack and intensity gave them a momentum that Ellis & Smith failed to disrupt. In the Men’s Doubles, Lane and Vendy couldn’t live with the quality of Satwik/Chirag and went down in straight sets. Lastly, in the Women’s Doubles, Pearly TAN and Thinaah Muralitharan demolished the English opposition and will be bringing Gold medals home to Malaysia. England had finalists in all three doubles competitions but they had to settle for Silver in each match.

Team Competition

Malaysia’s Gold in the team championship was a great example of an inspired group of players who ignored their critics and seized their moment. Many predicted struggles owing to the absence of LEE Zii Jia however with NG Tze Yong amassing confidence with each success they rode their momentum right to the top of the podium. It was a well deserved Gold. India fought hard and were rewarded with Silver, the Bronze to Singapore. For the first time ever, England failed to win a team event medal.

It’s been an enjoyable tournament with lots of good quality play but not many surprises. However, representing Malaysia, NG Tze Yong has shown incredible grit and nerve since the beginning of the team tournament and he can be proud of his achievements over the past two weeks. Lauren Smith, in getting to two finals, has fed off the home crowd and blended their support with a focus on the prize. I’m fascinated to see how successes and failures in Birmingham fuel performances in the upcoming World Championships.

Brilliant TAI Tzu Ying wins the Indonesia Open

Playing in front of a packed Istora Senayan TAI Tzu Ying won her third Indonesia Open with a display that underlined her sheer class. Using exquisite net play, incredible drops, and outrageous angles this was a performance that highlighted her outstanding talent. Again, she had to come from behind and again her intense sporting instincts pushed her to victory.

WANG Zhiyi started the first set very strongly. Her sharp smashes from the rear combined with great court coverage were intimidating and effective. She has built a reputation as a giant killer over the past couple of months and it was clear that she had TTY in her sights. As TAI’s creative genius started tipping towards errors WZY was solid and closed out the first set 23-21.

Then TTY entered a different dimension. Suddenly, like a true champion she found another level in the second game. In an astonishing passage of play she annihilated WZY to go to the mid set interval 11-0. She was simply unplayable; her net shots were divine but more importantly she was making fewer errors and had activated a deep desire to win. Uncharacteristic shouts and occasionally a clenched fist betrayed her emotional response to the challenge. WZY was outclassed and although she fought back bravely the second set was wrapped up 21-6.

Set 3 belonged to the Queen. She controlled the game even though the score was close up to 13-13. Her momentum was irresistible towards the end and she wrapped up the match 21-15 with yet another brilliant net shot.

Triple champions are rare: this third Indonesia Open win can be added to her three All England titles. This was an awesome campaign; she is truly one of the greatest, most remarkable players of all time.

If you enjoyed this then take a look at my article about her epic victory over CHEN Yu Fei https://womensbadminton.co.uk/2022/06/18/tai-tzu-ying-the-comeback-queen/

TAI Tzu Ying: The Comeback Queen

Dr Tai prescribed happiness for her millions of fans with this magnificent victory to reach the final of the Indonesia Open. Badminton Lovers enjoyed the exquisite pain of watching the Queen dead and buried only to witness an astonishing fightback and eventual triumph.

TTY’s reaction to the net fault. Screengrab courtesy Sept & BWF

The first set was absolute carnage. CHEN Yu Fei assembled quick bursts of points and dominated without doing anything dramatic. She is particularly good at screwing down the pressure on opponents in these situations. Fate was working against TAI Tzu Ying as well. The umpire called a doubtful fault for touching the net at 0-3. TTY was incredulous but summoned up a Polii moment, smiled then turned away. It was looking bad and a spiral down to defeat beckoned. Before we knew it the first set was gone 10-21.

The second set was breathtaking. 0-3 down and the match was slipping away. But TTY refused to concede any easy points; she upped her pace and fought for every scrap. The Istora Senayan pulsed with excitement as the lead switched between the two players. It was unbearably stressful to watch as TTY faced down five match points, eventually closing out the set 26-24 to force a decider.

After such an extraordinary battle the third set was tranquil in comparison; TAI Tzu Ying easing through 21-12. Fans crave days like these. She is a once-in-a-generation competitor, her resilience and spirit in the second set to pull off a hair-raising escape was spectacular. Tomorrow is another day. The final and a chance to win her third Indonesia Open. Go TAI!

Greysia Polii

Greysia’s farewell party is at Istora on the last day of the Indonesia Masters – the rumours are true; she is finally hanging up her racket. It is a chance for Indonesian badminton fans to celebrate her successes and for her to put an official full stop to a wonderful career.

“I was born to be a badminton player…I wanted to make history for Indonesia”
Greysia Polii

Apriyani Rahayu and Greysia Polii of Indonesia react after winning their match against Chen Qingchen and Jia Yifan of China. REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger

GreyAp’s Gold medal match at the Olympics was dazzling; they played their best game at the perfect moment and wrote themselves into Indonesian badminton legend.

2021 was the Golden Year but there have been countless twists and turns in a lifetime of badminton achievements. There have been critical moments along the way when she could have given up the sport and found a conventional job. The thing about Greysia is that she really does live the motto #Comebackstronger: she is brave and resilient. If she gets knocked down, she just gets back up again, greets the hard tests with a smile and continues the fight

It must have been tempting to walk away from the sport following her harsh treatment at London 2012. The black card was a shocking sanction especially with a suspension on top, but she endured this and then rekindled her career with Nitya Krishinda Maheswari.

Between 2013-2016 the duo stepped up a level and proved that Indonesia’s WD had the quality to compete against the best. Their 2014 Asian Games gold was evidence they relished testing themselves against the world’s finest pairs. Over the next 2 years they consistently reached finals and semis; as the Rio Olympics loomed, they were ranked 2 in the world with every hope of a medal. Disappointingly their 100% record in the group stages was shattered in the QF, and they returned home empty handed.

Nitya’s injuries meant her career was at an end so for a second time Greysia contemplated her own exit. It was a pivotal moment; her 30^th birthday was on the horizon, and there was no obvious partner for her to continue with. At this point fate took a hand in the form of Eng Hian who persuaded her to defer retirement so that she could help to mentor some of the juniors. In 2017 along came a young, raw Apriyani Rahayu. Success together came quickly (2017 Thailand Open and 2017 French Open) but it was a sector full of high caliber pairs and they were never able to totally dominate , after a couple of years some analysts believed they were reaching the limit of what they could achieve together.

History tells us that the analysts were wrong and they completely underestimated Greysia Polii’s fighting spirit and commitment to her sport. She is an athlete who is strong and smart and will always be remembered as Indonesia’s first WD Olympic Gold medalist. I still cry when I watch the end of that match, don’t you? Thanks for everything Greysia and Happy Retirement.

If you enjoyed this then read my article about the Olympic campaign https://womensbadminton.co.uk/2021/08/12/brilliant-polii-and-rahayu-win-olympic-gold/ or watch the match on YouTube

India Win the Thomas Cup!

Today was a day that will long be savoured by Indian badminton fans as their team overcame their status as underdogs to lift the trophy. Today was the day that legends were made.

India on top of the Podium. Image courtesy BWF

This was a brilliant win engineered by a group of athletes and coaches who all performed with distinction. Sen looked in danger of being overwhelmed by Ginting but after yielding the first set he coolly played his way to the win. Rankireddy/Shetty were up against Ahsan/Sukamuljo and lost set 1 but fought back with fast and furious tactics to force a second victory. Kidambi wrapped it all up in a brisk two sets. Indonesia just couldn’t disrupt the winning momentum of this squad.

The campaign has been bruising right from the start, but the resolve of these athletes proved impossible to break. This success, built on dedication, grit, and an obstinate refusal to let any match go is a testament to their self-belief and desire. When pivotal points had to be won every athlete in the Indian team had the mental strength to grasp the advantage. They relished the challenge.

They started as slight favourites at the Round Robin stage in Group C and began with 5-0 demolitions of Germany and Canada. However, the final tie – against Taiwan – to decide the group winners was a difficult contest. CHOU Tien Chen and LEE/WANG won the first two matches and although Kidambi pulled a game back, they lost 3-2. Taiwan topped the group. This meant that their route to the final in the next phase of the tournament suddenly was full of badminton’s big beasts

The knockouts require total focus and a quarter final against Malaysia was the first barrier at the sudden death stage of the tournament. This badminton superpower arrived in Bangkok with LEE Zii Jia as MS1. He crushed Sen (reportedly suffering with food poisoning) in two sets but as the tie advanced the impetus of the teams ebbed and flowed. It was Prannoy in the last match with the scores equal at 2-2 who grasped victory for India and a chance for a pop at Denmark.

The semi-final with Denmark gave us a repeat of the All-England final in the first match. Viktor continued his recent imperious form and dismissed a below par Sen in two. However, once again in a team contest Antonsen – at MS2 – struggled to keep his focus and Kidambi’s victory gave his teammates hope. With the scores level at 2-2 Prannoy stepped onto court; Gemke took the first game but couldn’t maintain his advantage and after 73 minutes history beckoned. India were in the Final!

This team matured and became battle-hardened as the week progressed This was a collective effort that overcame benchmark teams like Denmark, Malaysia and Indonesia. History has been made; its a proud moment for the players and all their supporters.

if you enjoyed this then take a look at my article from last year https://womensbadminton.co.uk/2021/10/17/indonesia-win-the-thomas-cup/

Uber Cup 2022 Preview

A spectacular lineup of the top women players will be contesting the Uber Cup in Thailand. There are mouthwatering head-to-heads promised as 16 teams chase their dream of winning the Uber Cup. Can anyone stop China from keeping hold of the trophy for another 2 years?

Just like the Thomas Cup this tournament begins with a Round Robin. The top 2 from each pool of four then progress to the Death or Glory knockouts.

Group A: Japan, Indonesia, France, Germany.

Akane’s regeneration since the Olympics has been dazzling; now she has rediscovered her joy at simply playing badminton and with this squad I would expect the Japanese team to dominate all their encounters in group A. Once they get past this stage though, they will be tested. A fully fit Nozomi is one of the best players in the world but lately there are question marks around her recovery from recent injuries. In doubles FukuHiro are back and should be able to hold their own along with NagaMatsu. The athlete who potentially can provide the special ‘something’ for this team is Misaki Matsutomo. Currently with the team as a refugee from XD, her touch and vision could make the difference when the pressure is on. I still feel a gnawing regret that she is no longer full-time in the WD sector. As she has made the trip to Bangkok the implication is that she will be part of a scratch pair.

The puzzle in this group is who will come second. Indonesia has sent some of its lesser known players who are unlikely to go further. Germany’s players had an excellent European Championship, so this points to progress to the quarter finals ahead of France.

Group B: China, Taiwan, Spain, Australia.

This group holds the possibility of some fabulous ties. WANG Zhi Yi could be seen as China’s WS3 but her recent triumph over Akane in the singles final at the Badminton Asia Championships has highlighted what a talented player she can be. Along with new-look HE Bing Jiao, CHEN YuFei and in WD CHEN Qing Chen/JIA Yi Fan China’s athletes must be optimistic that they will be unbeaten through the entire tournament.

The battle for second place must be between Taiwan and Spain – both teams with an iconic singles player at their head. Carolina is back after her second major injury layoff and although she won the title at the European Championships she is 20% off her best. That still means she is an exceptional player, but she needs games to fine tune her net play and to eliminate mistakes. Rumours are swirling around that she wont be playing at all; she’s sitting out the first tie against Taiwan so after that we’ll have to wait and see. TAI Tzu Ying should be able to lead Taiwan to second place but the heavy-lifting of progress is going to come down to the desire and tactics of teammates of both superstars.

Group C: Thailand, Denmark, Malaysia, Egypt.

Thailand are in a tough group but if they can win it they must fancy their chances of a semi-final or better. In WS May and Mew along with Busanan are capable of great wins; in WD Prajongjai/Kitithatakul will face tough games against Denmark and Malaysia and these results could be crucial to their progress. I wish Popor was part of their squad.

It’s hard to write off Malaysia against Denmark for second spot. The Danes have the edge in singles, but doubles is more even. Analysts are favouring the Europeans, but Malaysia has talent; if they get their winning momentum then they could get through.

Group D: Korea, Canada, India, USA.

Korea must be strong favourites with their foundation of exceptional WD blended with AN Se Young in singles. None of the other 3 in this group will be able to equal them so once again the debate will be around who can come second. I’m hesitant about the Indian team; some of the selection decisions were controversial and it’s arguable that they have subsequently had no luck regarding injuries. Of course, PV Sindhu is one of the best singles players in the world, but she cannot win the trophy singlehanded. It’s so disappointing that the duo of Treesa Jolly & Gayatri Gopichand Pullela who were brilliant at the All England this year have had to withdraw. Canada’s team can challenge because they have a balance of good quality singles and doubles, and perhaps a bit more depth.

Conclusions

China must be confident that they can defend this trophy as they just ooze all-round quality. However, sport can be unpredictable and the Japanese team could upset Chinese hopes so long as they are all playing to their maximum. There’s so much to look forward to in this tournament including Group B H2H between TAI Tzu Ying and CHEN YuFei, Misaki guest-starring in Women’s Doubles, and – as usual – Nozomi cheerleading from the sidelines with the rest of BirdJapan by her side. It’s going to be great!

If you enjoyed this then take a look at my Thomas Cup preview here https://womensbadminton.co.uk/2022/05/05/thomas-cup-2022-preview/ or my recent article about TAI Tzu Ying here https://womensbadminton.co.uk/2022/03/02/tai-tzu-ying-at-the-all-england/

Images courtesy BWF and Alamy.

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Women’s Singles – Beware Marin Incoming!

Women’s Doubles

Mixed Doubles

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Men’s Doubles

Men’s Singles: Viktor Rules OK?

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Team Competition

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Group A: Japan, Indonesia, France, Germany.

Group B: China, Taiwan, Spain, Australia.

Group C: Thailand, Denmark, Malaysia, Egypt.

Group D: Korea, Canada, India, USA.

Conclusions

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