Preview: China Most Likely to Win Its 7th Sudirman Cup

Published on May 10, 2009 by brooks | This story has been viewed 526 times

China is tipped to win the Sudirman Cup for the seventh time as the world mixed team badminton championships kicked off here on Saturday.

A total of 34 teams will compete for the trophy but only eight of them have the chance to lift it while China and South Korea are most likely to meet in the final.

But Chinese head coach Li Yongbo played down the hosts’ winning prospect. “It is quite difficult for China to win the Sudirman Cup,” he said, adding that China had advantages in only three events.

Veteran Lin Dan is the life-line of China in men’s singles while they still got Chen Jin and Shen Long. Shen took title in the 2007 World Youth Championships and was Asian champion in 2009.Xie Xingfang and rookie Wang Yihan keep women’s singles hard to challenge.

Beijing Olympic gold medalists Du Jing/Yu Yang got experiences for the women’s doubles and world second-ranked pair Cheng Shu/Zhao Yunlei are eager to prove themselves in international events. Olympic bronze medalists He Hanbin/Yu Yang will fight in mixed doubles.

As the 2003 Sudirman Cup winner, South Korea is possibly best equipped to get close to the host, but will be depending on their strong doubles more than the single players.

Olympic mixed doubles winner Lee Yong-Dae/Lee Hyo-Jung and women’s doubles runner-up Lee Hyo-Jung/Lee Kyung-Won lead South Korea and definitely will top in Team A.

South Korea won one gold, one silver and one bronze in doubles events in the Beijing Olympics. They also won four titles and seven silvers in 2009.

Malaysia will be led by men’s world No. 1 Lee Chong Wei, who has told his teammates that he needs their help to go further.

“My intention is to remain unbeaten in team events but it should not be a solitary effort,” said Lee Chong Wei. “I want to see my teammates giving their best so that we can reach the semifinals.”

“I will go all out to give a winning start in every tie as this will ease the pressure on my teammates and they can perform better.”

“It has to be a team effort and if we fail to reach the semis, there will be no joy even if I end up unbeaten,” said Lee.

Indonesian Badminton Federation chairman Djoko Santoso admitted that he woulg be happy if they took the trophy back, whick looks like a mission impossible. Olympic champion Hidayat Taufik didn’t go to China and men’s singles will be Soni Dwi-Kuncoro’s task. Markis Kido/Hendra Setiawan, who won men’s doubles in the Beijing Olympics and runner-up of mixed doubles Nova Widianto/Liliyana Natsir may bring surprise.

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