Category: Women’s Doubles

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Olympic Badminton 2024: Top Takeaways

Filled with moments of triumph and heartbreak this Olympic tournament had everything a fan could have asked for: intense drama, passion, and romance. In the end it felt like the “right” players were standing on the podium.

Screengrab used courtesy CCTV5

Mixed Doubles – Romantics Assemble!

ZHENG Siwei and HUANG Ya Qiong’s performance was nothing short of spectacular as they upgraded from Tokyo Silver to Paris Gold without dropping a single set. In the final they decisively beat KIM Won Ho & JEONG Na Eun to complete their collection of major titles.

There was a romantic flourish after the medal ceremony when Ya Qiong was ambushed by LIU Yuchen who went down on one knee, promised to love her forever and offered her a Darry ring. It was a beautiful moment and an absolute tearjerker.

Yuta and Arisa had wanted Gold but in the end they defended their Bronze well.

Men’s Singles: Viktor Victorious Again

I completely underestimated Viktor Axelsen’s ability to repeat his Tokyo success. His fitness, tactical acumen and will to win was faultless. Kunlavut Vitidsarn is the current World Champion and played beautifully throughout the tournament until he came up against Viktor in the final. He was bulldozed into Silver by the Dane who never allowed him to get his counterattack going. Viktor was formidable and an absolute credit to badminton in his sporting treatment of rivals and his interactions with fans.

LEE Zii Jia travelled to Paris aiming for Gold but in the end had to settle for Bronze. When he reviews his performance, he can be proud of his success. On the way to his medal, he demolished Anders Antonsen – one of the pre-tournament favourites – and came from behind to beat Lakshya Sen in the Bronze medal match. I hope this makes him hungry for glory in Los Angeles in 2028.

SHI Yuqi arrived in Paris as the top seed but faltered early and was destroyed by Kunlavut. It was a shattering loss as he has been playing so well all year. He could not get his game to flow.

Men’s Doubles: The Dormant Champs Reactivate

LEE Yang and WANG Chi-Lin’s victory was like an epic story of superheroes from ancient legend. The mighty champions of Tokyo have been VERY low profile over the past three years, but they heard the call of Gold and reignited at the Porte de la Chapelle Arena. After negotiating their escape from Group D, it was starting to look like their bond with the Gold medal was unbreakable; and despite a white-knuckle ride through the final they eventually overcame LIANG and WANG over three sets to defend their title.

Aaron CHIA and SOH Wooi Yik’s battle for Bronze was a nail biter. They were pushed to the brink of defeat by Kim Astrup and Anders Rasmussen but managed to claw their way back into the match and eventual victory. The Danes deserve credit for a strong tournament even though there was no medal in the end.

Women’s Doubles

CHEN Qing Chen and JIA Yi Fan have been relentlessly pursuing Olympic Gold and like their compatriots in XD the upgrade from Tokyo silver was well deserved. Their aggression and precision overwhelmed opponents who could not knock them off the path to the top of the podium. It turned out that it was nearly Pneumonia that defeated their campaign as they revealed that Yi Fan had been in hospital and unable to train not long before the games. Her resilience and determination to get back on court with her partner was rewarded when they triumphed over LIU Sheng Shu and TAN Ning in the final.

In the Bronze medal match the Japanese pair Nami Matsuyama and Chiharu Shida emerged victorious over Pearly Tan and Thinaah Muralitharan. Despite the Malaysian’s valiant effort the Japanese duo found an extra gear when it mattered and grabbed a place on the podium.

Women’s Singles

AN Se Young arrived on court as the hot favourite for Gold despite struggling with injury since the last Asian Games. Her mental resilience and all-round game saw her through a tough campaign to the final with unbreakable self belief. In the final she defeated HE Bing Jiao to become the first Korean woman to win this Olympic title since BANG Soo-Hyun in Atlanta. With her current form, it is easy to see her dominating women’s singles for years.

Veterans Ratchanok Intanon and TAI Tzu Ying were both competing in their fourth Olympics. After May’s victory over her close friend Tzu Ying, TAI revealed that her injuries had been so severe that she doubted she could even walk onto the court. May was eventually beaten by Gregoria Tunjung who went on to win Bronze and is poised to challenge hard for titles in the coming years.

Top Takeaways

The Olympics is traditionally a showcase for athletic excellence and this tournament delivered in all sectors. There was an unmistakable poignancy to some of the matches in the Arena and the feeling that it was the end of an era. Some of the outstanding players of this generation have run out of time to be Olympic Champion. Carolina’s heartbreaking exit in the semifinal emphasised the fine lines between triumph and disaster in sport. The younger generation will get more chances to shine and should use disappointment in Paris to fuel performance in LA.

If you enjoyed this then take a look at my celebration of MayTAI; the El Classico of the badminton world https://womensbadminton.co.uk/2023/04/09/tai-tzu-ying-ratchanok-intanon-maytai/

If you are a fan of Malaysian badminton here are two sites you will enjoy https://badmintoniacs.wordpress.com/ or why not try Shuttlehard which you can find on social media channels.

Please ask permission to repost and/or alter any of my work. Without prejudice I explicitly do not give permission to sportsnews or cabron tv to use any of my work.

©2025

Amanda Bloss All Rights Reserved

Featured

Pearly & Thinaah: Into the Olympic Semifinals

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.

Screenshot

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.

If you enjoyed this then take a look at the article written by my friend Rene Biaoli http://badmintoniacs.wordpress.com

©2025

Amanda Bloss All Rights Reserved

Pearly & Thinaah: What Happens Next?

Before we look forward to Paris 2024 let’s cast our minds back to Paris 2022 and the final of the Yonex French Open.  Pearly & Thinaah had negotiated a tough run to the final beating Matsuyama/Shida in their QF and Baek/Lee in the SF and now they faced the Japanese pair Matsumoto and Nagahara. Over three big sets their will to win, their strategy and their fitness saw them grab the title, igniting anticipation from fans for the years ahead.

2RW1KFF Hong Kong, China. 15th Sep, 2023. Pearly Tan, Thinaah Muralitharan of Malaysia.
(Credit Image: © Ben Lau/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire) From Alamy

It’s interesting to remember the challenges Thinaah faced leading up to the tournament; training solo while Pearly recovered from a hamstring injury. Injuries and the risk of injury poses a significant obstacle to this pair’s progress. Since winning Gold at the Commonwealth Games in August 2022 and their later victory in Paris later that year consistently maintaining peak fitness has been a struggle. Beyond the impact upon tournament participation, it disrupts training and overall progression.

WD at the Tokyo Olympics was probably the last hurrah for the “War of Attrition” style.  Greysia Polii excelled at endurance, and she stepped on court with experience of the Olympics . T&T’s style could be seen as the natural antidote to long rallies. At their most effective they bring a fizzy counterpoint to the court. Thinaah gives a good foundation to the pair with her defensive vision. Pearly is liberated to use her creativity and go hunting for points.

However, their recent match at BATC  against the Indonesian pair Mayasari/Sugiarto  was marked by mistakes and hesitancy suggesting  they haven’t hit their stride yet in the journey to Olympic qualification. Perhaps the fear of injury has tempered their style and relish for competition.

It’s vital that they avoid stagnating.  Reports suggest that Rexy Mainaky has arranged for them to spar with men in training recognizing a gap in standards with the other WD. Lately they have seemed a bit vulnerable to sustained attack – lacking the strategic resilience to break their opponent’s rhythm. Intensified training may offer a solution to this and bolster their competitive edge.

Olympic expectations were high when they were ranked at 5 at the start of 2023. They have slipped a little, but they haven’t suddenly become bad players.  They lost their momentum owing to injury so now – if they can both stay fit- there is still time to arrive in Paris with a renewed optimism. Their path to the Olympics has been full of difficulties so far. Yet with resilience and determination, the support of coaches and fans they can step on court to chase their dreams.

If you’re a fan of Malaysian Badminton take a look at https://shuttlehard.com/ and also https://badmintoniacs.wordpress.com/ .

Thanks to Rene Biaoli and the vast community of Malaysian Badminton fans for observations and shared ideas.

©2025

Amanda Bloss All Rights Reserved

Pearly Tan and Thinaah Muralitharan: Players of the Day.

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.

If you enjoyed this take a look at my old article about Tan/Thinaah. It needs an update but it’s still fun to read https://womensbadminton.co.uk/2021/11/21/pearly-tan-thinaah-muralitharan/ or this one about FukuHiro https://womensbadminton.co.uk/2021/08/27/yuki-and-sayaka-at-the-olympics/

©2025

Amanda Bloss All Rights Reserved

Yonex All England 2023: Women’s Preview

Olympic champions, world champions and future champions will all be travelling thousands of miles to take part in the All England – one of the most prestigious and coveted titles in the badminton world.

2J0NY61 Badminton – All England Open 2022 – Utilita Arena, Birmingham, Britain – March 20, 2022 Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi celebrates with trophy on the podium after winning the women’s final Action Images via Reuters/Ed Sykes

Women’s Singles

Seeded to win the trophy and returning as defending champion Akane Yamaguchi knows what it takes to be successful in this tournament. Endless resilience and faultless court coverage is baked into her game. Her speed and tactical nous give her a significant edge, so who can push her to her limits?

Akane’s top half of the draw is peppered with formidable adversaries.  CHEN Yu Fei is seeded 4 and is slated to clash with her in a SF.  She was outclassed in straight sets in their SF at the recent German Open so she will be reevaluating her strategies over the next couple of days. Sometimes her weakness can be caution and I think she will have to offer far more than her standard patient game if she wants to get on the podium.  Nevertheless she must be travelling to Birmingham knowing that she can win it again.  There are five Chinese women in the draw with WANG Zhi Yi and HAN Yue also in the top half.  HE Bing Jiao is seeded 5 and was only stopped by injury at last year’s tournament.  This year her harsh draw means that she could have to face Sindhu then TAI Tzu Ying during the early stages.

I am fascinated to see if Gregoria Mariska Tunjung can impose herself on this year’s competition. Her skills tend towards the flair end of the spectrum and over the past year or so she has worked hard to produce good results against top players.  Unseeded, in the top half of the draw, Ratchanok Intanon or Pornpawee will be early tests of her resolve.

Ratchanok Intanon’s adventurous style of play can result in unfavourable outcomes when she faces a determined opponent who tempts her into taking risky shots.  CYF and AY are those opponents, and they will be waiting for her if she goes deep into the tournament.  Despite that May can unpick rivals’ strategies with her inventive shots so her skills could take her past them if the stars align in her favour.

AN Se Young has had an impressive start to 2023 with two golds and one silver from January’s contests (& is about to contest the final of the German Open). She’s the second seed and so long as she stays injury free, she must be anticipating yet another final. If that turns out to be one more battle with Akane then I think the result will depend on how hard her journey to the last day is.  The Head-to-head stats are strongly in favour of the Japanese but recently it appears that the power dynamics are shifting.

Three-time winner TAI Tzu Ying has eschewed the possible benefits of a warm-up in Germany and decided to plunge straight into the S1000.  Her mind-blowing skills bring a touch of magic to any match but her mental resilience is below the level of some rivals.  If she can get her ‘A’ game flowing early on without escalating injury niggles she can quite legitimately be looking at a fourth title even though she will potentially have to negotiate matches against HE Bing Jiao and AN Se Young to get to the final.

I wonder what Carolina Marin could achieve this year? She has the experience to derail ASY if they meet in a QF and if she passes that test she has to be the contender that everyone is wary of.  Under sustained physical pressure there is the risk that she will be dismantled so her tactics should reflect this. PV Sindhu is a consistent medalist at the highest levels. I can’t reconcile this with the absence of a podium finish at the AE. She is unseeded this year in the bottom half of the draw and I’m not sure what we can expect from her, then again last time she competed in Brum was her successful Gold medal match at the CWG so she is well-known for getting her motivation from the big games.

The progression of WS tactics seems to favour the athletes with the toughness to accelerate in the third set. As the hall in Birmingham is usually slow it’s hard to look beyond the top two seeds for the eventual winner.

Women’s Doubles

We are in the middle of a generational shift in WD with more emphasis on attack rather than the attritional play of a few years ago. The idea of a showdown between the more traditional and the newer pairs is mouthwatering.

CHEN Qing Chen and JIA Yi Fan are consistent winners of tournaments and must be favourites to secure this trophy for a second time. Their strategy of  attacking aggressively and exerting a steady stream of pressure subdues their rivals quite effectively; they are skillful defenders, so the challenge is where to find their weak spot. Their compatriots ZHANG Shu Xian & ZHENG Yu are seeded 3 and they could meet in the QF if results go their way.

Defending champions Nami Matsuyama & Chiharu Shida are part of the new wave of pairs who want to seize control of matches through pacey attacking play.  Their exhilarating speed and Shida’s adventurous shots are so dynamic that they can often overwhelm the opposition; once they are in control they are very difficult to beat.

Pearly TAN & Thinaah Muralitharan are also part of the emerging group of WD players who approach matches with bolder strategies. Pearly is capable of audacious shots from the front court and as a pair they have a lot of grit. One of their big strengths is that they persevere and stay positive when they face setbacks together.

Apriyani Rahayu enjoyed glory as part of GreyAp and was able to defend diligently in that framework but the new partnership with Siti Fadia Silva Ramadhanti has uncaged two attack-minded players who thrive on a more assertive style.  They are seeded 8 so if they get to the QF and face ShidaMatsu there will be fireworks for the spectators to enjoy.

The quality of the WD competition is superb this year and there are multiple pairs who have the potential to make it to the finals weekend. The Aimsaard sisters had a great 2022 and are now acknowledged as emerging talent. Japan’s past winners, FukuHiro and NagaMatsu understand how to negotiate the early rounds of big competitions. Kitiharakul/Prajongjai (seeded 7) and the three Korea pairs are expected to do well.  Nevertheless owing to the slow hall conditions I think the eventual winners will have to be wily as well as offensive; there will be some long matches leading up to the final so staying injury-free will also be crucial.  Taking all these factors into account it’s hard to look far beyond the first and second seeds but I would love PriFad or PearThin to still be fighting at the weekend.

Mixed Doubles

I always include XD in my ‘women’s’ previews because it is the skill of the female partner that cements the success of the pair.  One of the most talented players in the whole sport at the moment is HUANG Yaqiong and along with her partner – ZHENG Siwei – is seeded 1.  She’s an exceptional competitor who has won this competition twice with different partner each time; most recently in 2019 with Siwei when they beat the 2022 champions Yuta Watanabe and Arisa Higashino.  The Japanese pair are seeded 2 this year and are looking to secure their third title in a row (fourth overall).  So, who can stop the top two seeds facing off for the trophy on March 19th? 

Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue have been knocking on the door of a major trophy for the last year or so.  They are fourth seeds and if things go smoothly they could potentially have a SF against the Chinese number ones.  It’s clear that all the French badminton players are looking to build for their home Olympics in 2024 so they will have a little way yet to peak.  Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Sapsiree Taeranttanachai (seeded 3) will be looking to improve on their silver in 2020 when they lost in three sets to Praveen Jordan and Melati Octavianti who have returned after quite a long injury related absence. As they haven’t been on court for a while they are unseeded and they could face Bass/Popor in round 2.  The Chinese fifth seeds – FENG Yan Zhe and HUANG Dong Ping – could be contenders too.  HUANG is the Olympic champion and this new partnership is steadily making progress.

Verdict

A spectacular event awaits. The best players will be testing themselves at the highest level. The winners will have to battle hard and stay focused on the prize. Go Girls!

If you enjoyed this take a look at my article about TAI Tzu Ying at the All England https://womensbadminton.co.uk/2022/03/02/tai-tzu-ying-at-the-all-england/

©2025

Amanda Bloss All Rights Reserved

Featured

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!

Graphic courtesy BWF

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 32nd 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/

©2025

Amanda Bloss All Rights Reserved

Yonex All England 2022: Women’s Preview

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. Pearly TAN 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 ZHENG Si 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.

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

©2025

Amanda Bloss All Rights Reserved

Players of the Year 2021

It has been an extraordinary 12 months: alternating between feast and famine as the players enter bubbles for intense periods of competition and then exit to recover. These are my biased, sentimental, affectionate awards for 2021.

Screenshots courtesy BWF and Popor Instagram

Player of the Year: TAI Tzu Ying

In 2021 we have watched this impulsive free spirit confirm her reputation among the greats of the world game. Outstanding technical skills and creative genius often elevate her shots to works of art. A key target this year has been to step up her performance at the Olympics and World Championships so winning Silver at both is a significant improvement. She has stayed fresh and relatively injury free by focusing on only a few tournaments and she has been ever-present in the finals. The good news is that we can expect to see her on court in 2022 as the threat of retirement seems to have been put on hold for the time being.

Runners Up: CHEN Yufei for her error-free capture of Olympic Gold and Akane Yamaguchi who has been indefatigable and a worthy World Champion.

Best Competitor: Greysia Polii

The breathtaking Gold in Tokyo was a sensational, momentous achievement. Of course, Apriyani Rahayu had a significant role in the victory, but I want to highlight Greysia. Although retirement appeared to be on the horizon she was determined not to fade quietly into the background. A last Olympics, a last chance to get on the podium and boy did she grab it. Congratulations Greysia, always one of my favourite players

XD Player of the Year: HUANG Dongping & Sapsiree Taerattanachai

I cannot choose between these two brilliant players. HUANG Dong Ping’s Gold at the Olympics was magnificent; the final was a glorious tie between four gifted athletes. She is brave, has great reflexes and is adept at using the flat game to aggressive advantage. Popor has also enjoyed a stunning 12 months, winning eight titles, and – other than the Olympics – she and Bass have dominated the XD scene. Their physical resilience and mental strength are second to none. Interestingly both stand-out players compete successfully in WD as well.

Best Pair: Nami Matsuyama & Chiharu Shida

It’s been fascinating to watch their improvement recently; the leap from Super 100/300 up to the top levels has been harmonious and their upwards momentum got great rewards at the Indonesian Festival of Badminton. Maybe the Japanese ‘house style’ is evolving because they are more aggressive and more willing to try and seize the initiative than we expect. Both work hard, support each other and obviously enjoy their matches.

Runners Up: Greysia Polii & Apriyani Rahayu – seeing my two favourites get Gold at the Olympics is one of my best badminton moments ever.

Parabadminton player of the Year: Leani Ratri Oktila

Gold, Gold, Silver at the Tokyo Paralympic games – at Parabadminton’s debut the world #1 was totally dominant.

If He Was A Woman I’d Give Him An Award Too: Viktor Axelsen

A year packed full of achievements – bravo Viktor!

Conclusions

These are just some of the people I have loved to watch in 2021: it’s just my subjective opinion, I can’t pretend that I have spent any time evaluating the stats. The Olympics and the tournament bubbles have made this year unique. Some have thrived but injuries and withdrawals from tournaments have been common; let’s hope for less of a treadmill in 2022. There have been so many highlights (which I’ll cover in my Review of the Year) so I would like to thank all the players and everyone from the badminton community for making this such a memorable twelve months.

©2025

Amanda Bloss All Rights Reserved

Featured

Pearly Tan & Thinaah Muralitharan

2021 has been a breakout year for this young and exciting Malaysian pair. Their dynamism and tenacity have won them plenty of new fans over the past twelve months because they have been seriously challenging players ahead of them in the rankings

At the Indonesia Masters. Screengrab courtesy BWF

When they were at junior level, they were not WD partners unlike many of their current rivals. They have competitive familiarity across the sectors but the main factor significant to their current style of play is the influence of XD as the pair have both got experience in this discipline. Their bold approach to matches is refreshing and I sense that there is a shift happening away from the more traditional, old fashioned neutral play towards tactics that allow players to take the initiative in a match.

Their performance in the first round at the Toyota Thailand Open was an “aha moment” for fans and analysts.  It was an exhilarating contest packed full of drama.  After losing the first set they levelled then refused to concede the third.  It was simply gripping.  They were down 18-20, saved four match points and eventually won 27-25.  It was an 87 minute white knuckle ride where they kept their focus and eventually earned victory.   

As a pair they are keen to disrupt their rivals rhythms with intelligent use of angled shots.  Thinaah has a strong front court game and both can unleash some power. Naturally they are good defenders but it’s the intensity and pace of their attack that enables them to seize command with flat drives and effectively screw down on their opponents.

Their first world tour title win at the 2021 Swiss Open  was  confirmation that they are on the right track.  A straight set victory over the quintessence of defensive WD –  the Stoeva sisters –  felt like a  shot of adrenaline to the heart of the discipline.  It was proof that the partnership has raised their game over the past couple of years.

These two athletes are possible stars of the future and are part of the generational shift following Tokyo 2020.  They still have a lot of hard work to do if they want to move up to the consistent standards set in Women’s Doubles by the Japanese pairs.  It was revealing that in their recent Indonesian Master’s game against Matsuyama/Shida they were carried along by the momentum of the Japanese attack without really being able to derail it and they were beaten in two sets.  They must have more tactical options if Plan A is not successful.

“You’ll see us fail, I guarantee it.  But you will never see us quit”

Thinaah Muralitharan on her Instagram

It’s exciting to watch a pair with a fresh approach. They are ‘work in progress’ but they have the potential to keep moving up the rankings and can aim to be top 10 players. Their spirit and gritty resolve mean that they can frighten any opponent so they can regard the future with hope and optimism. I can’t wait to see how they meet the challenges of the next couple of years.

©2025

Amanda Bloss All Rights Reserved

Sudirman Cup Review

This edition of the SC was lit up by the brilliance of the women players.  Their spirit and strength were at the heart of the most successful teams. 

Misaki Matsutomo

The return by Misaki to Women’s Doubles for this tournament was a bittersweet gift to her admirers. The scratch pairing with Mayu Matsumoto had a few rough edges yet it was a treat to watch.  Misaki is a genius at the net – her touch and vision are sensational – but the skill that lifts her to Goddess status is her will to win.  At critical moments she can find a new level and seize victory.  In the semi-final against Malaysia, especially in the second set, her drive and aggression were unplayable and they beat TAN/THINAAH to seal the win for Japan. I wish her all the best in her Mixed Double’s journey but I wish she was still playing WD.

Akane Yamaguchi – Most Valuable Player

At a pivotal time in the final Akane gave a stellar performance: she had the self-belief and resources to challenge the best and gave BirdJapan hope.  She is an outstanding defender; in the final there were patches against CHEN Yufei when she was under intense pressure from the Olympic Champion.  Her strategy of keeping her tempo and defending everything however hopeless meant that CYF could never really settle into the sort of rhythm that lets her win 5 or 6 points in a row.  Often functioning on instinct, she was simply brilliant and won the match in two games 21-19, 21-16.

CHEN Yufei

In the run-up to the final, CYF was always the nucleus of Chinese victory.  In the quarter-final against Denmark her match against Mia Blichfeldt was a ‘must win’ because China – already trailing – risked elimination 0-3 if she could not level before the Men’s Singles.  The tie was pulsating with the competitive advantage ebbing and flowing between the two athletes. She held her nerve under intense scrutiny and clung on in the decider to win. In the semi-final against Korea, she lost the first set to AN Seyoung but was resolute and sucked ASY into her patient, error-free style which suffocated resistance.  It was only in the final against Yamaguchi’s faster pace that she lost a match.

Pearly TAN & THINAAH Muralitheran

The young Malaysian pair have been catching my eye for the last year or so and they have really started to challenge some of the more established doubles teams.  They stood out in this competition because of their fighting spirit and unwillingness to concede defeat.  Against GreyAp in the quarter final they battled the Olympic Champions for 90 minutes and saved six match points.  There’s no doubt they are the rising stars of this sector and I can’t wait to watch them again.

Honourable Mentions Also To:

CHEN Qing Chen and JIA Yi Fan for closing out the final and refusing to be intimidated by MatsuMatsu. Gregoria for making a fight of it in Indonesia’s quarter final and ending the competition with a 100% record. Mia Blichfeldt for her epic encounter with CHEN Yufei, and Greysia Polii for ‘surviving’.

Congratulations to China for their twelfth win in the Sudirman Cup – even without some of their best-know stars they arrived as favourites. There were some nail-biting matches and Denmark came close to eliminating them but in the end they deserved their victory.

©2025

Amanda Bloss All Rights Reserved