In a brutal demolition of their Korean opponents Pearly Tan & Thinaah Muralitharan made history as the first Malaysian WD pair to reach an Olympic final. Wow, did they deserve this win.
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There was a focus and intensity about the pair of them right from the start. This was a death or glory tie, and they made the choice to go for glory. The first set went by in a flash. The attack was slick and the defence held steady. There was a quiet confidence about them as they went toe-to-toe with the Tokyo bronze medalists. One up 21-12. How would the Koreans respond? This was an unbelievable start.
Korea began the second set in a more composed way. The serve alternated as no-one was able to build momentum. 4-4. 5-5. 8-8. Then something flicked the attack switch inside Pearly and Thinaah’s game brains – the semifinals were calling, and they could not ignore the temptation to go for it.
Pearly in particular was adept at moving her opponents around to gain space to attack. She was always searching for angles to exploit. Thinaah was her reliable back-up. Nothing got past her. The Koreans started to run out of ideas as Malaysia edged ahead into the interval just ahead 11-8.
They were unrelenting as they played for a semi-final place. The score kept ticking up and they were so smooth in their partnership. The understanding between them and their faith in their strategy was incredibly resilient. Kim/Kong were still fighting hard and managed to claw back some points.
At 12-13 I was a little concerned as Pearly seemed to be having a minor hamstring twinge; suddenly the Koreans were level 13-13. Was this the anticipated fight-back?
Fearless and brave the Malaysian pair took deep breaths, refocused, and found a higher level. Their rivals were pressured into unforced errors; they were misjudging the drift, and their challenge was starting to fade. Pearly and Thinaah were hungry for points. They had not stepped on court to indulge the Korean’s love of long rallies. They were direct and determined. Still the score kept advancing in their favour.
There was nothing that Kim/Kong could do to counter this persistent attack. As the set progressed, they faded. As they faded, Pearly and Thinaah grew. 18-13, 19-13, 20-13 match point. Surely nothing could stop them now. Never in doubt! 21-13. What a performance.
Each year I go to the All England in Birmingham to enjoy the superb quality of play. However, I have long been curious about tournaments held in the heartland of Badminton – Asia – so this year I elevated my fandom to new levels; resigned from my job, packed my case, and satisfied some long-held ambitions.
This is my personal albeit brief account of my visit to a S750 in Singapore and the Indonesia Open (S1000) with a few comparisons with the All England. Lets be honest; few people go on holiday in Birmingham UK.
CHEN Yu Fei at the M&G in Singapore
The All England offers fans the chance to watch the best players competing for one of the most prestigious titles in badminton. Yet, the immense queues to get in and the lack of food choices can be frustrating. It can cost a lot to attend as well so I was eager to find out how other tournaments meet these challenges.
KFF Singapore Badminton Open 2024
We only have to look at the tournament winners to see that it featured many athletes who are genuine gold medal contenders for this year’s Olympics. The Chinese team were dominant, and the resurgence of SHI YuQi was a joy to watch. There was a focus on letting the matches speak for themselves; unlike the AE there was little ‘cheerleading’ with spectators, or DJs. There were well publicized, professionally managed M&Gs with a variety of players all through the week and it was a genuine thrill to participate in this.
Public transport to the stadium was superb – cheap, clean, and efficient – and I arrived relaxed and happy. Security checks were thorough, but quick as there were lots of officers on duty.
Singapore prides itself on the high quality of its drinking water and while spectators may not take bottled water into the stadium but there are free-to-use drinking fountains to fill your own bottle inside. I thought that this was a brilliant innovation. The food for sale inside was not particularly inspiring especially in the context of the quality/cheapness of food in Singapore malls.
I thoroughly enjoyed the whole tournament and would love to go again someday. I had a season ticket which covered entry for 6 days. It was easy to buy online from the UK and it cost $154SD which is roughly £90. An absolute bargain!!
Kapal Api Indonesia Open 2024
Stepping through the curtain into the arena, I was hit with a pure ‘Wow!’ moment when I realised I was standing only about 5 meters from the players on Court 2. Visiting the legendary Istora has been a dream of mine for a while now and this year I finally made it. Despite some withdrawals I relished watching AN Se Young, SHI YuQi, Anders Antonsen et al. The highlight for me was the dramatic clash between MAN Wei Chong/Kai Wun TEE & LU Ching Yao/YANG Po Han.
It’s surprising that there wasn’t a better overall performance from home players & in fact none made it through to contest a final. This, coupled with the controversy over ticket prices contributed to the low-key atmosphere. Given the context of an average local wage the ticket prices are sky-high leaving some empty seats. Pricing out passionate, knowledgeable fans feels like an own goal. I was disappointed that the VIP category didn’t guarantee a specific seat.
Like in Singapore I used the MRT to get to the arena – it was cheap, cool and clean. While the extra layer of bureaucracy with wristbands and passport checks was a hassle, arriving for the QF sessions after the Friday Prayer break meant no queues. The staff and volunteers were friendly and helpful, and security was efficient.
The food stations at the IO was the best of any arena I’ve been to this year. Not only was there a wide variety of reasonably priced food but also huge screens let me watch the action whilst eating.
I would jump at the chance to watch badminton in Jakarta again. As in Singapore there was no distractions from the action on court and I liked that experience. I think that was probably the last time the tournament will be held in that stadium. It was easy to buy a ticket online from the UK and a VIP QF ticket (ie one day) was RP1050000 so approx £52.
Takeaways
My original plan had been to watch TAI Tzu Ying in both of these tournaments, but she withdrew owing to injury. Despite this, I had the best time and I’m already wondering when I could visit again; maybe adding in Malaysia too. It’s starting to feel like the end of an era. A few of our favourites will be retiring this year and some have already. A badminton scene with no Kevin & Marcus or TTY is hard to imagine. Here’s to happy memories and new adventures in the world of badminton.
Thanks to everyone who encouraged me to visit and who shared their top tips. Special mentions to @ttyings, Ninuk and Veronica.
In a truly momentous milestone TAI Tzu Ying has achieved the feat of securing her 500th victory. She’s travelled a long way from the skinny kid winning her first pro match in 2007 to the worldwide icon about to grace her fourth Olympics.
2RR8TM1 Zhongguo, China’s Jiangsu Province. 7th Sep, 2023. Tai Tzu Ying of Chinese Taipei hits a return during the women’s singles second round match against Zhang Yiman of China at the 2023 China Open badminton tournament in Changzhou, east China’s Jiangsu Province, Sept. 7, 2023. Credit: Yang Lei/Xinhua/Alamy Live News
She is badminton’s once-in-a-lifetime star; beloved throughout the world, transcending her sport in the same way that Federer transcends tennis. Dazzling deception is baked into her approach. Her exquisite shots are a shared celebration of her command of the game as her fans provide a soundtrack of delight wherever in the world she plays.
Many people have played a part in shaping her genius – it’s born of years of hard work, unfettered imagination and joy in competition. Looking back to her formative years it was the support of her family that nurtured the spark of brilliance. Her father introduced her to the sport and – as the story goes – took her around the smaller clubs that dot her homeland to take on adults. She couldn’t compete equally in terms of strength, but hated losing, so she had to hone her trickery. Imagine if you had been a club player in Kaohsiung suddenly facing TTY across the net – there must be people in the city who did just this in the early days.
A hand injury suffered when she was thirteen could have been a debilitating setback. Instead, it catalyzed the development of her extraordinary backhand skills. As her father astutely observed, the injury proved to be a blessing in disguise.
TTY’s spontaneous panache on court has been supported by Coach LAI who understands that her flair must be nurtured rather than squashed to fit established playing styles. Her father was key in identifying LAI as a coach on the right wavelength to look after her. The formation of her team – physio, coach, & trainer has been designed to give her support in all areas of her game.
It’s impossible to pick a favourite TAI Tzu Ying match but the series of breathtaking battles with Ratchanok Intanon over the years standout as the El Classico of the badminton world. The spectacular skills of both athletes elevate these games to thrilling contests between wonderful opponents challenging each other to reach new heights of wizardry. Read more here TAI Tzu Ying & Ratchanok Intanon: MayTAI
500 Up, more than 200 weeks as World #1 and not finished yet. Dr TAI’s zest for the game has refocused with the 2024 Paris Olympics on the horizon. It’s impossible to predict what results the next year will bring but we know that when she walks onto the court her fans will be there to clap and cheer, standing ready to support and witness the unlimited brilliance of this incredible player.
An all-Malaysian MS final at the Arctic open brought us the lip-smacking prospect of Spicy Chicken versus the Mushroom – or, for those less versed in Chinese nicknames: LEE Zii Jia against NG Tze Yong. This clash not only promised an enthralling match for the neutral fan but was also an exciting advert for the depth of talent in the Malaysian team. In this high-stakes battle both players needed Gold but only one could stand at the top of the podium when Negaraku played.
2T08EMJ Hangzhou, China’s Zhejiang Province. 5th Oct, 2023. Lee Zii Jia of Malaysia competes against Prannoy Haseena Sunil Kumar of India during the Men’s Singles Quarterfinal of Badminton at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, east China’s Zhejiang Province, Oct. 5, 2023. Credit: Ren Zhenglai/Xinhua/Alamy Live News
The tenacious progress of NTY since his superb performances at the last Commonwealth Games – including his dispatch of Viktor Axelsen at this year’s All England – reveal a player who is poised to challenge the best in the world. In contrast, LZJ has weathered a very up-and-down year and suffered an excess of unnecessary media scrutiny as a result. Nevertheless, he’s in the process of refining his game; cultivating patience and cutting errors. Game on!
Set 1: Advantage Lee Zii Jia 21-14
With a smash speed consistently higher than 410kph LZJ went full throttle courtesy of an unwilling green light from NTY. Tze Yong struggled to contain Zii Jia’s aggressive accuracy and was sucked into a reactive game that stopped him from getting any sort of foothold in the first set. It was all over in 16 minutes.
Set 2
NG Tze Yong found himself bulldozed by the sheer brutality of LEE Zii Jia’s game. Usually, he can remain composed and counter an onslaught but today he struggled for ideas against his compatriot. In the blink of an eye LZJ had charged into a 5-0 lead; he was completely dominant and enjoying the flow of his game. We only saw fleeting glimpses of what NTY is capable of. He fought to claw his way back into the match but could not halt the progress of LEE Zii Jia to a well-deserved Gold 21-15.
LEE Zii Jia came to the match planning to give Ng Tze Yong no chance to breath. It was a tough 39 minutes for NTY but his progress to the final showed his impressive growth. Meanwhile, Lee Zii Jia’s relentless attacking prowess was an exhilarating sight. What an exciting day for fans of the two players.
Edit: The two of them were actually on the podium to Queen’s We Are The Champions. I think the ‘We’ is appropriate!
LEE Zii Jia’s run of good results at the Australian Open came to an end in a three set SF with WENG Hong Yang. What are the top takeaways from this tournament for him and his fans?
2J6ETN3 (220501) — MANILA, May 1, 2022 (Xinhua) — Lee Zii Jia of Malaysia poses for photos during the awarding ceremony for the men’s singles at the Badminton Asia Championships 2022 in Manila, the Philippines, May 1, 2022. (Xinhua/Rouelle Umali)
As Team LZJ embarked on their flight to Sydney last week it was crucial that Coach WONG and Darren Liew supported their player. Amidst the gale of media criticism that often swirls around him, they had to embody the eye of the storm, giving tactical analysis and unwavering confidence in his ability to overcome his challenges.
Before the competition began – after a dismal sequence of early exits – plus a hiatus to recharge and recalibrate, I think that the prospect of making the semi-final of a S500 tournament would have been a tantalizing glimpse of a brighter horizon.
As he took to the court to face fellow Malaysian LEONG Jun Hao in R32 the main worry was his recent habit of early exits stemming from a mix of impatience, good opponents, and bad luck. However, plot twist! This time he changed the script. The match did not begin particularly well: his play was marred by errors: his range was out, and he was misjudging the arena’s conditions. LJH took the first set, and an upset was on the cards. However, set two and a small improvement in his touch and some deceptive shots surfaced. He was tenacious and levelled to one set all. His momentum continued and with an impressive display of mental grit he got the victory in just over an hour.
R16 was another long three set match, this time against Indian national champion Mithun Manjunath. Zii Jia was more comfortable with the conditions, and noticeably better in the front court. While it was not a dazzling performance he rose to the challenge and was into his first Quarter Final for months. It was encouraging to see him find an extra gear at 16-16 in the final set. MM resisted and fought back hard but he could not break LZJ’s resolve.
And so, to another compatriot clash, this time against the ever-improving NG Tze Yong. Malaysian badminton fans are lucky to have two outstanding MS. NTY’s performances at the Commonwealth Games and at the All England this year showcased his tenacity and undemonstrative self-confidence. He is such a dogged, never-say-die competitor that it was imperative for LZJ to win in two if he had any hope of progression. Ominously he lost the first set and the second was balanced on a knife edge but Zii Jia would not yield, eventually taking it to extra points 26-24. It was heartening to see his surge of determination to get the match to a third set. The advantage was with him, and he took it 21-19.
Four early exits in a row before this tournament but this time he broke the pattern and reached the SF. After his defeat he revealed in an interview with the BWF that playing as an underdog had helped him. He can take so many positives from this week. Against WENG Hong Yang he showed a willingness to use his aggression to dominate the net; his movement was fluid, and his shots were sharp. Notably, he hasn’t journeyed deep into a tournament for so long and this will be great to improve his match stamina.
What can we expect in Copenhagen at the World Championships? Realistically the challenge continues to be consistency. However, with his team, he is working on the toolkit to transform himself into a better player. The journey is just beginning.
Now the challenge for Lee Zii Jia and his coaching team is to tap into his incredible talents and help him find his groove again.
2PFH65M Utilita Arena, Birmingham, UK. 17th Mar, 2023. 2023 YONEX All England Open Badminton Championships, Quarter Finals Day 4; Kodai NARAOKA versus LEE Zii Jia in the Mens Singles competition, LEE Zii Jia celebrates winning the match Credit: Action Plus Sports/Alamy Live News
It is essential to keep a frustrating situation in perspective. Remember, not too long ago he was a top 3 seeded player -a testament to his talent and skill – it is crucial to acknowledge that he has not regressed into a sub-par player overnight. Like any athlete there are difficulties and the journey to peak performance can be arduous.
Bringing WONG Tat Meng on board as his coaching director is a statement of ambition. He has a great cv and a broad experience of nurturing players to reach their full potential all over the world. He has come home to Malaysia to use this expertise to strengthen LZJ for the challenges ahead.
And so – for now – we must regard LZJ as dynamic work in progress. He is desperate to show that his sweat on the practice court equals trophies on the show court, but it is a transformational process that has to evolve. He needs more routes to victory when he cannot blast his way past an opponent; so, by reworking his game to incorporate different options depending on the challenges of the match he will become a more resilient player.
WTM must unpick and analyse the elements of LZJ’s game that are not working. They have to refine and enhance. All this against the whirlwind of endless tournaments, unrelenting press pressure and his player’s self-criticism. So, he has identified his first priorities as: consistency, improving ranking and securing qualification for the Paris Olympics next year.
The World Championships are looming, and it is probable that he will be arriving in Copenhagen as an unseeded player. The important thing is not only how far he can advance through the rounds but also the trajectory of his metamorphosis. Will he prolong rallies? What is going to happen to his unorthodox smash? Does he have the physical stamina to go deep into the draw after his recent early exits?
Sun Tzu said that victory comes from finding opportunities in problems. As I reflect on Lee Zii Jia, I firmly believe that he does have the mental agility to innovate and the grit to persevere through difficult times. Champions are not solely defined by victory but by their courage in defeat and determination to overcome any obstacle placed in their path. Triumph over adversity is the ultimate measure of greatness.
Pearly Tan & Thinaah Muralitharan seemed destined for a two-set exit at the Axiata Arena today but then something extraordinary happened.
Screengrab courtesy of the broadcaster
By the middle of the second set the two Malaysians were struggling to get any sort of foothold in the match. Fukushima and Hirota were consistently winning rallies as they ensnared their opponents in a war of attrition. They were repeatedly sending up big clears, extending rallies and targeting a visibly exhausted Pearly for point after point.
Suddenly something shifted. The fans detected a glimmer of…something… and a resistance was born. Intelligently Tan & Thinaah called the Japanese bluff and turned their strategy back on them. Perhaps the exertions of last week’s Sudirman cup started to be felt. Incredibly they managed to level the scores and then held on under incredible pressure to force a decider.
The third set began horrifically for PearThin and I suspected that they had given too much to stay in the match. They were 1-6 down before they managed to start clawing their way back into the tie. There was a mesmerizing rhythm to the exchanges. The Malaysian pair kept prolonging the rallies and Hirota especially was put under immense stress. Between them, FukuHiro misjudged the baseline 5 times in the first half of the last set and Tan/Thinaah seized their chance.
All four athletes were tired, seemingly functioning on muscle memory as they fought from point to point. All four should be proud of their resilience and desire. But with the score deadlocked on 12-12 Pearly – completely depleted – summoned up some last energy and scored a big point at the net: 13-12.
The duo who never give up just didn’t give up. The lucky spectators at the Perodua Malaysia Masters were treated to an exhibition of resilience, teamwork and spirit with touches of brilliance at key moments. They closed out the final set 21-16. What a day for Pearly Tan and Thinaah Muralitharan, fantastic! That was a GAME.
Kim and Kong’s impressive victory at this year’s All England won them a whole lot of new fans. Having witnessed their performances for three days in a row I was enthralled by the dynamic energy they brought to the arena and their sheer will to win.
In an interview they both cited “Costa” as their favourite thing about England. Here they are just about to go into Costa Coffee on the morning of their final. I was lucky enough to bump into them and take a picture.
Before the pandemic they were recognized by the BWF as 2019’s Most Improved Players. Since then, they have been steadily building their reputation as one of the best pairs in the world without always dominating their sector. Nevertheless, they won the 2021 World Tour Finals and got Silver at the 2022 World Championships.
Since watching their magnificent quarter final against the top seeds – CHEN/JIA – I have become a keen fan of their brand of WD. I did not have high expectations for the sixth seeds going into the game. Though they competed well in the first set they ultimately lost it 21-19 and found themselves in a 0-5 hole in the second. They seemed down and out. Yet in an extraordinary sequence they defied the Chinese duo, summoned up their self-belief and started to shift the momentum of the game in their favour.
Both Gill Clark and Steen Schleicher noted KONG’s backhand and net play have been upgraded in the last year. She was playing shots with plenty of ambition, not only in the front court but also exploiting spaces that appeared at the back with confidence and precision. This had a big impact on the progress of the contest (and the subsequent two matches) because it opened up more chances to attack. On the sixth match point in the third set the Korean pair finally secured their win. In my view, it was the standout tie of the tournament.
They carried this winning attitude right through the rest of the competition. In the semi-final ZHANG/ZHENG were beaten in straight sets on the fourth match point. In the final they completely overwhelmed their compatriots BAEK/LEE to become the All England Champions 2023.
KIM and KONG already have an Olympic Bronze, making it tempting to consider their chances at the upcoming Paris Olympics for a shot at Gold. With a nimble approach to tactics, resilience, and a determination to win they can plan for a deep dive into the Olympic draw. Undoubtedly, they are strong contenders, and it will be exciting to see how their journey unfolds towards the 2024 Olympics.
Nothing stirs my badminton soul like the thought of a showdown between TAI Tzu Ying and Ratchanok Intanon. When two of the most technically brilliant players in the modern era meet, we know to expect gold-standard excellence. It’s the El Classico of the badminton world.
Tai Tzu Ying of Chinese Taipei (L) and Ratchanok Intanon of Thailand shake hands after the women’s singles quarterfinal match at the Malaysia Masters 2019 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Jan. 18, 2019. Credit: Chong Voon Chung/Xinhua/Alamy Live News
On court they inspire each other to reach new levels of genius. I often feel that TAI Tzu Ying can step into a different dimension away from her opponent, but against Ratchanok it is as though they hold hands and journey together. That is not to underplay their intense desire to defeat the other. During a match their creative vision, tempo and accuracy is dazzling.
At the time of writing (April 2023) there have been thirty-five fixtures between them with the current head-to-head standing at 20-15 in Tzu Ying’s favour. The first was as far back as 2010 at the Indonesia Grand Prix Gold quarter final; it was over in 32 minutes; a straight sets win for May.
Over the last 13 years there has been over 29 hours of play between them so it is tough to pick a favourite match, but I often rewatch the All-England final from 2017. There are not enough superlatives to do it justice. To the accompaniment of spectators’ delighted gasps and spontaneous applause there were so many beautiful shots played with verve and daring. It ended with a victory for the kid from Kaohsiung: TAI Tzu Ying’s first All England title.
Fast forward to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, over a decade has passed since that quarterfinal in Indonesia, and the stage was set for another highly anticipated showdown between two badminton superstars. They took to the court with a spot in the semifinals at stake.
What ensued was a pulsating match of skill, strength and grit as the two athletes battled over three exhausting sets. May unleashed some breathtaking shots and secured an early advantage winning the first set 21-14. Tzu Ying – facing intense pressure – had to dig deep. She mounted a fierce comeback, and the tie became a true test of finesse, athleticism and mental toughness. In the end it was TTY who clinched the match and a place in the semifinals winning 14-21, 21-18, 21-18. It was world class; a true test of willpower with both players leaving everything on the court. Owing to May’s distraught reaction at the end I find it too heartrending to rewatch. I wish it had been the final.
TAI Tzu Ying has observed that playing against May can be like looking in a mirror. They have trained together when young, and now have a warm relationship despite their rivalry. Their mutual respect is evident in their comments on each other’s social media and reportedly TTY included references to May’s play in her doctoral thesis.
Tzu Ying has mentioned that she plans to retire sometime in 2024 and I cannot help but wonder if Ratchanok and the rest of that golden generation of women’s singles players will be considering hanging up their rackets soon. The MayTAI is a highly anticipated event in the badminton calendar. The matches have become the stuff of legend. It is a testament to their talent and dedication that they continue to captivate fans year after year, cementing their status as some of the greatest players of all time.
Thanks to KH (@WKueihua) on Twitter for sharing this interesting news article with me about the friendship between the two players https://www.nownews.com/news/5639580
A sparkling line-up in all the women’s sectors promises some brilliant battles ahead. The stars are back! The German Open has been full of upsets with some seeds struggling to impose themselves on the tournament. Let’s see if this unpredictable picture lingers into England.
Image courtesy of BWF
Women’s Singles
Three-time winner TAI Tzu Ying usually has a scintillating presence on court & brings stardust to any tournament; exceptional racket skills and unconventional genius means that she will be challenging for the title. However there are some big challenges ahead. In 2021 Akane Yamaguchi hit a dazzling run of form. Liberation from Olympic expectations unleashed a new focus, her fitness has returned, and she must be eyeing the trophy with confidence. These two are seeded to meet in the final in a repeat of 2018. On that occasion TTY triumphed so Akane will want revenge. Neither of them were on good form in Germany; both crashing out in their R2 matches so they both must step up their play if they want the trophy.
China is consistently producing exceptional women players. It’s astonishing to realise that CHEN Yufei – the current Olympic champion – is only seeded #3. Of course she has not been able to participate fully in the tour owing to China’s Covid restrictions. She is a deadly opponent who can drain the fight from a rival before putting them to the sword. The bottom half of the draw is arguably able to offer her a smooth journey to the SF and a potential game versus Akane or Sindhu. Realistically her consistency and fitness make her favourite for this title. HE Bing Jiao is always a bit of an enigma. During the pandemic she has become leaner, but has she become meaner? I think we will probably find out if she makes it to a QF with her compatriot CHEN Yu Fei. After beating Akane in Germany her confidence should be sky high. The other notable Chinese player bringing form to the UK is ZHANG Yi Man who dispatched Sindhu in three sets in Mulheim. She meets CYF in R1 so it’s a tough ask to expect progress.
As the defending champion Nozomi Okuhara has little to prove but has a harsh draw to negotiate. She has remained quite low profile since Tokyo but in December – for the third year running – was crowned winner at the All Japan Badminton Championships. In the first couple of rounds she’ll have to overcome a double Danish challenge; in R1 round she is meeting Denmark’s Line Christophersen then R2 could offer Mia Blichfeldt. Further in, TAI Tzu Ying, May or AN Se Young await. She will need to be on her game from the moment she steps onto court on day 1.
Is this going to be AN Se Young’s tournament? The top half of this draw offers a lot of banana skins & she would probably have to overcome May, TTY or Nozomi to get to the final. This is my worry. I’m a little unconvinced that her stamina will hold up through a bruising tournament – the cumulative effect of game after game after game does have a cost, so she must be tactically clever and try to conserve energy wherever possible.
Ratchanok Intanon was in good form at the Olympics; the battle with TTY in Tokyo was outstanding and there is a possible repeat of that epic match in prospect in the semi-final. First May has to negotiate early rounds that include ASY. Under pressure she often she executes extraordinary shots, disdains percentage play and can unravel a rival with her extravagant skill. I love to watch her compete like this but I think sometimes it’s the consequence of a desire to speedily finish off a rival; if they manage to hang in the game there can be Trouble.
The renowned Big Game Player – Pursala V Sindhu – is hard to analyse. She has an Olympic bronze from 2021 but often over the past 2 or 3 years she has struggled to build a winning momentum that takes her all the way to the top of the podium. She wasn’t able to progress beyond R1 at the German Open in the run-up to this tournament so I’m not sure what we can expect. She is one of the best of her generation but Akane awaits in the QF.
I see CHEN Yufei as favourite for this title. However Akane enjoyed impressive form at the end of 2021; if anyone can beat her they are serious contenders.
Women’s Doubles
All the badminton community is anticipating the international return of FukuHiro with warmth in their hearts. They are such a likeable pair: their spirit against the odds at the Tokyo Olympics was admired the world over. We have watched Yuki Fukushima joining forces with other players whilst Sayaka Hirota recuperated from knee surgery but now is an opportunity to see them attempt to recapture the title they won together in 2020. It’s hard to estimate where they are in terms of form and fitness. They will have to take one match at a time and see what happens. Nothing is impossible for two of the best players on the circuit.
The #1 seeds (and winners in 2019) can be a real handful for any opponent. CHEN Qing Chen is a valiant, tireless player who screws down the pressure whilst left-handed JIA Yi Fan loves to smash or get a hard flat rally going. They both have plenty of power and use it with venom. If it boils down to a brawl at the end of a game for the last few winning points then probably the Chinese pair will edge through. If they bring their A game to Birmingham, they will be unstoppable.
It’s been a while since Korea won the WD title in Birmingham. In fact, it was 2017 when LEE So-hee won it with CHANG Ye-na. What a record LEE has of competing and winning at the highest levels in badminton over nearly a decade. She is seeded 2 with SHIN Seung-chan and they kick off their campaign with a tricky tie against the Stoevas. KIM So-yeong and KONG Hee-yong are seeded 3 in the top half of the draw – both pairs have all the skills to get to finals weekend and once they are there anything can happen.
2021 was a break-out year for Nami Matsuyama and Chiharu Shida who upped their competitive levels and enjoyed plenty of success at the Indonesian Festival of Badminton. Their creative aggression marks out the evolution of the Japanese house style. I’m excited to see if they continue their development into the last stages of this competition.
I’m not neutral, I’ve followed and admired Greysia Polii for years. That gold medal win at the Olympics was one of my happiest badminton days so I want to watch the 6th seeds go deep into this competition. Although the GreyAp partnership remains in place for Birmingham it’s noteworthy that Apriyani Rahayu planned to be with a different partner at the German Open but unfortunately a minor injury scuppered that idea. PBSI have to plan for the future but I hope the Olympic Champions play well in Birmingham, no injuries and do themselves justice.
The current champions Mayu Matsumoto and Wakana Nagahara who habitually win big events have been forced to withdraw because of a knee injury sustained during training.
This doubles competition does have the potential for a few upsets from unseeded pairs. PearlyTAN and Thinaah Muralitheran never know when they are beaten and their opponents are always in for a difficult hour or so on court. Likewise Maiken Fruergaard and Sara Thygesen can mix it with the best – in round one they face GreyAp and that’s a tricky challenge for the sixth seeds.
Mixed Doubles
I want to include XD in my women’s preview because I believe that it’s the performance of the woman in the duo that leads to victory . The role of the woman partner has shifted over the last 15 years to a more proactive aggressive stance – I think mainly because of the influence of Liliyana Natsir, one of the true greats of the game. This benefits mobile players who are comfortable in attack and defence.
It’s quite hard to see beyond the first four seeds for the title. Deservedly at the top of the draw are the Thai pair Bass/Popor. They are physically strong, worked hard through 2021 and got plenty of success. They didn’t participate last year because of their focus on Olympic prep but 2022 will see them travelling to the UK with a strong chance of grabbing the trophy for Thailand. I think it’s significant that Sapsiree Taerattanachai is not competing in WD too. Her sole focus at this tournament will be XD. The two shutters who can stop them are the Tokyo Olympic Champions: WANG Yi Lyu & HUANG Dong Ping. I’m a big admirer of HUANG who is a wonderful doubles player with power, touch and plenty of smarts. The destiny of the title is probably in her hands.
Who could challenge the favourites for the title? Japan’s Yuta and Arisa are a formidable pair. I love to watch them switch roles and see Yuta marauding at the net; this is a huge competitive advantage and very difficult to neutralise. The #2 seeds ZHENGSi Wei and HUANG Ya Qiong must also be eyeing the trophy but they have a very unconventional preparation for the tournament as they will be competing with different partners the week before in Germany.
Conclusions
So, a wonderful tournament hosting the best women players in the world lies ahead. The athletes who can stay fit and focused on their goals will be the ones who carry away the trophy on Finals Day. Every shot counts.
Kadang coretan yang ku buat ada maknanya, kadang hanya asal saja suka-suka. Yang jelas, aku senang membuatnya. Terima kasih telah menyempatkan diri melihat-lihat laman ini.
Women's Badminton 