As the Super 1000 tournament marks the much-anticipated return of some top pairs, there are exciting openers and history-making prospects.
The top seeds had underperformed at the recently concluded German Open. They seek to justify their rankings at the oldest and most prestigious badminton tournament. Indeed, there are eight former champion pairs and nine multiple winners across the doubles categories seeking yet another title.
While Japan had emphatically delivered a clean sweep in the three disciplines last year, the chances are bleak this time. The men’s and women’s doubles defending champions are missing and the four-time champion Yuta Watanabe still seems to be dealing with a back injury.
Minions and Daddies
After a disappointing Tokyo outing, Marcus Fernaldi Gideon/ Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo have had a shaky run so far. The aura of invincibility is no longer there. Despite being the world number one for almost five years, the Minions have no major titles to boast of. A third All England title might just give them the confidence to stand a class apart again from their contemporaries.
Kim Astrup/ Anders Skaarup Rasmussen have Mohammad Ahsan/ Hendra Setiawan in their quarter. The Danes will perhaps continue their good run and punt for the semifinals. However, can the Daddies stage yet another magic show to add another trophy to their overflowing cabinets?
The opening thriller
A first-round match between two top 10 pairs? It can’t get any better! The in-form Stoeva sisters face the world number two Lee Sohee/ Shin Seungchan for the tenth time. Despite the fact that the Bulgarians’ sole victory over their opponents came back in 2018, they just beat Kim Soyeong/ Kong Heeyong and also drove the World Champions all the way in the final last week.
Elsewhere, Sayaka Hirota is back to partner with Yuki Fukushima. Owing to Hirota’s injury, they had an underwhelming performance against Chen Qing Chen/ Jia Yi Fan at the home Olympics. The Chinese happen to be the favourites for a second All England crown. The Japanese face a tough opening battle against Zhang Shu Xian/ Zheng Yu.
Who can stop the Thais?
The current world number one pair Dechapol Puavaranukroh/ Sapsiree Taerattanachai spun a fairy tale last year, marred only by the heartbreak in Tokyo. They won 50 out of 56 matches, which converted to a World Championships crown, a World Tour Finals trophy, and three Super 1000 titles. Given their present form, they might have a cakewalk to the final. A potential semifinal clash with the defending champions Yuta Watanabe/ Arisa Higashino is on the cards. While they lost to the Japanese thrice last year, the Thais have finally cracked the code.
In the other half, one can expect an all-Chinese semifinal amidst claims that Zheng Si Wei/ Huang Ya Qiong will play their last tournament as a pair. If true, the once unbeatable duo will seek consolation in a second mixed doubles crown in Birmingham. The European pairs Marcus Ellis/ Lauren Smith and Thom Gicquel/ Delphine Delrue can also hope to mix it up in the quarterfinals.