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
Congratulations to Gregoria Mariska Tunjung for winning her first World Tour title at the Madrid Spain Masters. With her captivating style of play few women’s singles players can command a crowd like her. Watching her in full flow was an absolute delight and this well-deserved success included victories over two former world champions.
Screengrab of GMT courtesy of BWF TV
Tunjung’s play against Marin and then Sindhu highlighted her exceptional technical skills. Her outstanding touch at the net blends with a sharp strategic vision to make her into a daunting opponent. Her ability to disrupt opponents’ rhythm is rooted in a willingness to use clever deception and finesse which leaves them scrambling to respond. Lately she has added in a new ruthlessness to her shot selection. Her shuttle placement is excellent, so her precise smashing has given her extra options to finish rallies off.
Previously it has been noted that her mental and physical resilience could be further strengthened and recently there has been a discernable shift in her approach which has led to a more consistent performance on court. Back in July 2022 she pulled off a remarkable conquest of Akane Yamaguchi in the QF of the Malaysia Masters in three sets and there was a sense that she was unearthing a new self-belief. Good performances followed leading to an appearance in the final of the Australia Open and high hopes from her fans for 2023.
It’s significant that being ranked in the top 8 can give a major competitive advantage. Gregoria is at her highest ever position: 12, but with perseverance a top ten spot is well within reach.
Soon the qualifying period for Paris 2024 will begin and it looks like she will be meeting upcoming challenges with a new focus. Anything is possible if she manages to incorporate consistency into her game; I’m excited to see what happens next.
Three years after winning gold at the World Junior Championships for the second time GOH Jin Wei hung up her racket in Sept 2021 aged just 21. One of Malaysia’s most promising young players had cut her career short leaving fans and coaches wondering what might have been.
2PD8F3X Malaysia’s Goh Jin Wei in action against Germany’s Li Yvonne (not pictured) during day one of the YONEX All England Open Badminton Championships at the Utilita Arena Birmingham. Picture date: Tuesday March 14, 2023.
She embarked on a professional career in 2013 and was soon acknowledged as a potential superstar. Just like Akane Yamaguchi – another World Junior Champion – she was unhampered by her diminutive height. Her speed and agility formed a great platform for a dynamic style that forced mistakes and made her into a difficult opponent.
It turned out that her biggest challenge was not a rival she had faced across the net, instead she was having to confront serious health issues which forced her to step away from the courts. The effect on her body of a total colectomy was huge and despite her efforts to minimise the impact of the surgery and the side effects of her medication eventually she had to accept that she was too unwell to handle the demanding training regime at the National centre.
Although GJW had quit the national set up she hadn’t completely walked away from badminton . In fact, by giving herself space she was beginning to see a way forward to manage her health and resume competition. Going at her own pace was effective. She signed a professional contract with Kuala Lumpur Racket Club at the beginning of January 2022.
In a shocking turn of events, she was then issued with a back-dated two-year ban from competing in BWF tournaments. This paralleled the sanctions on LEE Zii Jia following his request to become an independent professional player. Observers were dismayed at the severity of the punishment for actions that in other walks of life would be completely legitimate. On appeal and after high level arbitration, by the end of January the ban was overturned.
After the disruption and emotional roller coaster of her ban she was finally able to focus on playing. She had an encouraging 2022, playing in tournaments from Wales to Bangladesh, gradually accruing points and thus higher ranking. She has fought her way into the top 32 which means that she can enter higher ranking tournaments and most importantly be more selective about what she enters. We see a similar approach from TAI Tzu Ying and Viktor Axelsen; the simple fact is that getting to a QF in these tournaments gets good points.
Following her recent European games concerns have been raised by commentators about her susceptibility to injury, highlighting the need for her to continue to work on her physical resilience. However, it is crucial to look at her performances considering her surgery and the meagre diet she subsists on. In fact, if games are scheduled at an unfavourable time of day, it’s likely that she will be competing on an empty stomach with only fluids for sustenance. I think she is still searching for ways to mitigate the impact this has on her training and recovery.
The Olympic qualifying period begins in May 2023 and she is eyeing the possibility of competing in Paris with optimism bolstered by a renewed sponsorship from Li-Ning. Her journey has been full of obstacles but her determination to overcome these challenges is remarkable. Undoubtedly she is an exceptional athlete with an unwavering dedication to badminton.
GJW has a great YOUTube channel. If you are interested in finding out more about her life then check it out.
Two semifinals on two Saturdays in a row – including at the All England – means that LZJ can review the past few weeks work with satisfaction. Before he arrived in Europe, fans were eager to see him bounce back from January’s trend of early exits from tournaments; he has emerged from a gloomy slump to continue his journey to more success.
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
At his best there is nothing that compares to watching LZJ in full flow. His formidable power and athleticism generate excitement and the highest expectations. Measuring up to – and managing – these expectations has been a huge challenge for him and his team.
The German Open began brightly with an assured victory in R1 but the optimism was punctured by a shock elimination in the next round to CHIA Hao Lee. Judging by LZJ’s distressed reaction on his infamous Instagram post this defeat stung. It highlighted how lonely his path has become.
On to the All England and it was carnage for the MS seeds in the early rounds this year, but Zii Jia swerved danger and managed to build momentum. Two consecutive two-set victories finally earned him the right to a quarter final against Kodai Naraoka. KN had dumped LZJ out of the Malaysia Open in the opening round back in January so this was a potentially tricky match, but he remained composed and took his revenge. It was a hard-fought win over 3 sets and gave him his first semifinal for a while. Facing the resurgent SHI Yu Qui for a place in the final he couldn’t quite equal his opponent’s attack and was beaten in straight sets. Reflecting on his campaign LEE said he was at 70% of his best and had learned to believe in himself again
“I think I have proven myself in this tournament. Yes, it may be just a semi-final, but I’ll take it step by step, and I can only get better”.
LZJ speaking at the All England 2023
Another week, another tournament and onto Basel for the Swiss Open. An opening game against LI Shi Feng – newly crowned as All England champion – and the player who had despatched LZJ from the second round of the India Open in January. This time it was the Malaysian who came out on top in three sets. R2 followed by another win, this time against Nhat Nguyen to set up a QF against LEE Chia Hao. Remember that shock early exit from the German Open? Not this time. Although both men looked a bit fatigued Zii Jia battled through to his second semifinal in a week. Unfortunately, this proved to be one match too many for his tired legs and he was defeated quite swiftly by Watanabe.
Team LZJ have said on many occasions that their ultimate goal is to reach the 2024 Paris Olympics. Sometimes it seems that this big picture can be diluted by the frustration of losing a match. No-one wins anything by winning everything; there has to be an acknowledgment by some fans and commentators that losing is part of the process of becoming a better, more resilient athlete.
Full disclosure – I’m a huge fan. I love his raw intimidating intensity; the power and precision he can bring to his shots is top quality. It’s clear though that his self-belief can falter in the face of a poor result and the sometimes brutal (unjustified) criticism that that can attract. He’s an athlete who needs a strong support network who can keep his focus on positives and not let him get bogged down in negativity.
Europe has had a liberating effect. Zii Jia has a chance now to return home and recharge his batteries ready for the challenges to come.
The stage is set for the thrills and skills of the highest standards. Get ready to watch your faves battle it out on court for one of the most respected titles in Badminton.
2JT4YGJ Tokyo, Japan. 28th Aug, 2022. (L to R) Mohammad AHSAN & Hendra SETIAWAN (INA), Aaron Chia & Soh Wooi Yik (MAS), (Top) Satwiksairaj Rankireddy & Chirag Shetty (IND), (Bottom) Fajar ALFIAN & Muhammad Rian ARDIANTO (INA) Badminton : TotalEnergies BWF World Championships 2022 Men’s Doubles Award Ceremony at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium in Tokyo, Japan . Credit: Naoki Morita/AFLO SPORT/Alamy Live News
Men’s Doubles
Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Rian Ardianto seemed to cross a threshold in 2022; their performances at the beginning of the year were disappointing but they became more dominant and better at capturing big titles as the months went by. They attributed it to a happier mindset on court and a determination to relish their sport. They are the top seeds here but their opening tie is a potential banana skin. I can’t quite believe that they will be meeting Korea’s KANG Min Hyuk & SEO Seung Jae in the opening round. These two have started the year in good form with two SF plus a final at the German Open. If FajRi can overcome that challenge they should be pretty confident of a run deep into this tournament.
The bottom half of the draw is where there are countless roadblocks on the road to the final. The 2022 World Champions – Aaron CHIA and SOH Wooi Yik – are second seeds but they have a slightly brittle side that can surface at inconvenient times; for instance their underwhelming outing at the German Open. If they can keep their nerve and dominate the front court, then finals weekend awaits.
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy/Chirag Shetty have swerved a difficult R1 clash owing to the late withdrawal of The Minions. The Indian pair should have high hopes for this tournament. Their pacy intensity is exciting to watch as so long as they are prepared to vary their approach if this doesn’t work they can get past a lot of their rivals. I was very sorry to hear about the Kevin Sukamuljo’s withdrawal because of the effects of Dengue Fever. Sending best wishes for a speedy recovery.
LIU Yu Chen and OU Xuan Yi are a new pairing who have gelled almost instantly and are a hazard to every athlete with ambitions. It would be no surprise to see the World Tour Finals winners on the top of the podium at the end of the week. They are seeded 5 and could face Hendra Setiawan/Mohammad Ahsan in a QF. Last year’s finalists are vulnerable to long rallies and to chronic injuries resurfacing and I expect all opponents will attempt to exploit this.
There’s plenty of star quality on show in Birmingham but no-one seems bulletproof this year. I’m intrigued to see the competition unfold and may the best men win!
Men’s Singles
There’s a somewhat chaotic energy in MS at the moment but with a serene Viktor Axelsen at the centre. His 2022 was stupendous with a win/loss record of 48-3. No-one gets those sorts of stats by accident; his competitive focus is second to none. For all that, his defeats in 2022 came from 3 different players (Sen, LOH Kean Yew, & H S Prannoy) and he recently lost the India Open final to Kunlavut Vitidsarn. Paradoxically it is more interesting to consider his defeats than his relentless success. Viktor is human after all. So, who can find a chink in his armour at the All England?
The top half of the draw is interesting because it contains the 3 men who beat him in 2022, unfortunately not one after the other. His main danger will come from either the third seed Anthony Ginting or fifth seed CHOU Tien Chen either of who could meet him at the semi final stage. Ginting has hauled himself out of his post-Olympic slump quite well although his games against Axelsen are frustrating because he doesn’t seem able to change a losing game plan. I hope he and his coaches have had a look at Prannoy’s game or Kodai Naraoka‘s ‘never say die’ approach as I think there are plenty of clues there to construct a realistic Plan B.
In the bottom half of the draw LEE Zii Jia is 4th seed and a long way from serenity. There is a lot of pressure on him to succeed in every tournament – some self-inflicted – and his frustration at near misses is obvious. He is a fantastic player who has won here before and can win again. He needs a settled environment where he can simplify his distractions and concentrate on being brilliant. I really wish him well in realizing his potential.
Kunlavut Vitidsarn meets Kento Momota in R1. It’s hard to judge where KM is in his comeback. He showed some improvements in the early stages of the recent German open but was absolutely demolished by LI Shi Feng in the SF. Kunlavut’s win over Axelsen in the final of the Indian Open confirmed that he is on the rise. SHI Yu Qui is also in this part of the draw but he was remarkably sluggish in his recent game in Germany. Hopefully he was just conserving energy for Birmingham because at his best he is a threat to everyone.
Can Jonatan Christie raise the trophy on finals day? In the past he has shown no fear of marathon games, that being so, he could construct a scheme to challenge Viktor. In their semi-final at the recent India Open he didn’t really trouble the Dane; he’s going to have to bring a lot more to the court if his ambition is to be satisfied.
It’s well known that it’s very hard to retain a title in sport. Even so, it’s easy for us spectators to predict that Viktor will keep his hands on the All England trophy this year. His invincibility has been breached recently and yet who will do it in Birmingham?
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 Chenand 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 SapsireeTaeranttanachai (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!
An Se Young blazed into January’s tournaments with the eagerness of an athlete who knows that their time to shine has arrived. Fans enjoyed 3 podiums, 2 Gold medals and a blossoming rivalry with Akane that hints at some colossal clashes in the future. I’m keen to watch her play at this year’s All England because the momentum around her is gathering pace. It would not be a surprise to see her step on court on finals day.
2M8G442 South Korea’s An Se-young celebrates after beat China’s Chen Yufei during their women’s singles semi-final match at the Malaysia Open badminton tournament at Bukit Jalil Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Saturday, Jan. 14, 2023. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)
Although known as a retriever, this is too simplistic. She possesses a harmonious skill set so her game plans can be liberated from the necessity to compete in a particular way. Her ability to exert unremitting gnawing pressure is the bedrock of her style whilst her talent allows her to gauge when to be patient and when to be aggressive. A couple of years ago I was criticizing her for a lack of consistency. Back then she was often unseeded: she could conquer a top player in an opening round only to fall in the next match. Competing at the highest level exposed the challenge for her of winning four or five hard games in a row.
She has been an absolute menace to the WS status quo over the past twelve months. She has figured out how to stay mentally and physically fresh whilst progressing through a tournament. Resilience is at the core of everything she does. I adore her stubbornness in the face of challenges; the determination to never give up and the self-confidence that her exceptional balance of skills will get her past tough opponents – Olympic champions and world champions are some of her recent scalps. “Fear” has no home in her mental makeup. Even in the face of setbacks she drives herself onwards and it’s this attitude that has let her reach new levels of success.
She is the symbol of the new generation and will be a force to be reckoned with for years to come. At the Atlanta Olympics in 1996 BANG Soo Hyun won gold for Korea in WS, could Paris 2024 see that title return to Korea?
The year’s end means I can assemble some of my favourite memories of 2022 and reflect on the dramas that have unfolded on court. The passion and commitment of the players has given us plenty of highs and lows to enjoy and/or endure.
Men’s Doubles
This sector has yielded a lot of the big stories this year; one of the most joyous has been AaronChia & SOH Wooi Yik clinching the World Championship in August. There had been occasions in 2022 when they seemed powerless to force the big wins but this time, they grabbed their chance with intelligence and desire. In the preliminary stages of the match, it seemed certain they were heading for silver as they could not equal Ahsan & Setiawan’s tempo. Their change of tactics and success at prolonging the rallies whilst probing their opponent’s defences was decisive and they triumphed in straight sets. Astonishingly the first players from Malaysia to win Gold at the World Championships. A standout achievement.
2JT4YAT Tokyo, Japan. 28th Aug, 2022. Aaron Chia & Soh Wooi Yik (MAS) Badminton : TotalEnergies BWF World Championships 2022 Men’s Doubles Final at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium in Tokyo, Japan . Credit: Naoki Morita/AFLO SPORT/Alamy Live News
The winners of the BWF Most Improved Players of the Year are also the new World #1 pair: Fajar Alfian & Muhammad Rian Ardianto. Their partnership this year has been getting better and better and yielded 4 titles (SO, IM, MM, DO). Gideon and Sukamuljo will be focusing on regaining their competitive edge after a tricky year disrupted by injury. One of the shocks of the year was Fikri and Maulana’s victory at the All-England. Out of nowhere, they were unstoppable. I watched most of their games at the arena in Birmingham and I loved the way they rode their momentum to the final.
The new pairing of LIU Yu Chen with OU Xuan Yi looks full of potential. I think that the Chinese coaches can mould these two into an extremely dangerous unit on the road to the Paris Olympics. Their World Tour Finals success was a little unexpected; there were times when OU was nervy, however we can expect to see them on the podium more in 2023.
Rankireddy & Shetty can look back on 2022 with satisfaction at their achievements. They played a significant part in the Thomas Cup win against Indonesia. Their defeat of Kevin and Ahsan was an immense psychological boost to their teammates and a grave blow to their opponent’s ambitions. Commonwealth Gold, plus the French and India Open titles all add to an impressive year.
Women’s Singles
This year has all been about Akane Yamaguchi and her bounce back from a disappointing Olympics. Her play has been outstanding. She is indefatigable on court with a speed of movement and thought that is hard to equal. Her award of BWF Player of the Year is a well-deserved accolade for an athlete who makes no secret of the fact that she plays because she enjoys the game. Korea’s AN Se Young enjoyed an 80%-win rate in 2022 (Stats courtesy of twitter account @Statminton). Although she won three individual trophies, I think the magnificent Korean triumph over China in the Uber cup will be a memory she will cherish over the years. I frequently debate her style of play and whether she is resilient enough to be a ‘pure’ retriever because she often seems to suffer from cramp towards the end of a tournament. Eventually, she may consider a more blended approach; as a young player she was more attack-minded and this may be the solution to the physical demands of tournament success. Her 90-minute marathon against CHEN YuFei in the final of the Uber Cup was astonishing but did end in defeat.
Women’s singles continue to be the most competitive sector. CHEN YuFei did not dominate 2022 (1 title) and in fact her compatriot – HE Bing Jiao – has had a more notable year ending a long trophy drought and cultivating a winning habit. TAI Tzu Ying ended the year second in the world rankings and a consistent presence on the podium with the best win rate amongst her peers (82%). Her musings about retirement have gone to the back burner for a while although chronic injuries do seem to resurface once she goes deep into a tournament. All her fans have their fingers crossed that she can continue to compete at this level for the near future.
Women’s Doubles
Indisputably the world #1 pair CHEN Qing Chen and JIA Yi Fan are still the players to beat in any tournament. Once they get into their rhythm, they are hard to keep at bay; I love their merciless drive for victory, and they will surely dominate podiums again over the next twelve months.
However, this is the sector experiencing the biggest generational shift. 2023 will be a crucial year for the up-and-coming pairs to hone their skills. Apriyani Rahayu’s new partnership with Siti Fadia Silva Ramadhanti is already looking menacing; there is still work to do to develop that intuitive understanding that is at the heart of all successful pairs, but they could be serious contenders in Paris 2024 if they stay fit and keep working. Pearly Tan & Thinaah Muralitharan – current world ranking 9 – are another couple whose aggressive style is helping to ring the changes in WD. Their victory at the French Open plus Commonwealth Gold only hints at what they could achieve over the next couple of years. The other pair who have caught my eye recently are the Aimsaard sisters representing Thailand. They performed well at their first WTF and should be looking forward to the challenges ahead with confidence.
After the end of the Olympic cycle the Japanese – except for Shida/Matsuyama who are good at winning S1000 titles – are not so dominant in the rankings. Korea has three pairs in the top ten and so we’ll watch with interest to see who can really challenge the Chinese #1.
Men’s Singles
Viktor Axelsen has been incredible in 2022 and deserves all his success. His invincible aura has only been pricked three times this year: the defeats to LOH Kean Yew, Lakshya Sen and H S Prannoy were rare blips in his dominance of his sector. It seemed to me that the only disappointment that hurt him was Denmark’s loss in the Thomas Cup; I am sure he longs for a Gold team medal.
The million-dollar question is “Can he sustain these levels of success?” because the focus for the rest of the athletes in Men’s Singles must be to discover the chinks in his armour and to find ways to stifle Axelsen’s natural game. LOH Kean Yew is quicksilver fast so if the shuttles are flying fast, he gives Viktor serious problems. Prannoy’s strategy was to reduce Viktor’s chances to use his height advantage, try to control the net and just a refusal to concede however dire his situation.
LEE Zii Jia has had a year full of upheaval not to mention some minor injuries. A more tranquil, settled team around him must be the aspiration for 2023. He has all the talent to challenge the best but he must find that extra 5% from somewhere that will strengthen his resilience and help to seize wins in tight games. He lost in the final of the Denmark Open to SHI Yuqi and that win for the returning Chinese maestro gladdened many hearts. Not because anyone wanted LZJ to lose but because SYQ is a brilliant talent who will enrich the sector. Anthony Ginting’s year ended better than it started although it is time he unveiled a Plan B for those games against Axelsen. Lastly Kento Momota has fallen out of the ranking top ten; his long painful slump after the car accident in Malaysia is proving tough to break out of. His recent All Japan triumph is a glint of light, but it remains to be seen if he can use this as a springboard into the new year.
Mixed Doubles
After the dream team of ZHENG Si Wei and HUANG Ya Qiong were split up to a background shriek of disbelief and horror from their fans there was a strange limbo period. Happily, they reassembled in time for the Badminton Asia Championships and have gone on to exert total dominance of mixed doubles. It is arguable that HYQ should have won the BWF Female Player of the Year because that was the first of ten titles in 2022. HYQ’s brief liaison with OU Xian Yi was not bad and I am glad he seems to have found his forever home with LIU in MD, but it is painful to consider what the world of badminton nearly lost.
Conclusions
There have been some epic games, plenty of shocks and lots of talking points. Raking over the ashes of the old year is always interesting, but now we can anticipate 2023. I can’t wait to see who will win the titles on finals day at the Malaysia Open. Lets hope for brilliant play, some surprises and maybe a home winner.
Thanks to all my friends on Twitter who have swapped ideas and opinions with me the last year. A special mention to @Statminton for letting me use their figures in this article.
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.
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)
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.
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
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Women's Badminton 