Venue : Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium, Tokyo-JPN Total prize-money : US$300,000 Tournament website : http://yonexopenjp.com/2016/en/ Tournamentsoftware link : https://www.tournamentsoftware.com/sport/tournament.aspx?id=6AB43E80-2B5D-4B28-9B14-8133B6F6FDA4 Tournament time-table : http://yonexopenjp.com/2016/en/schedule.html Ticket Information : http://yonexopenjp.com/2016/en/ticket.html BWF Page : http://bwfworldsuperseries.com/tournaments/2469/yonex-open-japan Live Streaming : - http://videostream.dn.ua/videopage/videoPage.php?g=c2J2b2JoK2F0Y3ZsbmhZ&c=en&i=eWlhaXVidGd1bA№f№f - Japan time : http://www.worldtimezone.com/time/wtzresult.php?CiID=4364&forma=Find Time 2015 WINNERS => https://bwf.tournamentsoftware.com/...A3742E-966C-4E1B-A652-6BC693FD6720&d=20150913 MS - Lin Dan (CHN) WS - Nozomi Okuhara (JPN) MD - Lee Yong Dae/Yoo Yeon Seong (KOR) WD - Zhao Yunlei/Zhong Qianxin (CHN) XD - Joachim Fischer Nielsen/Christinna Pedersen (DEN) *R/32 Match Highlights : - Hans Kristian Vittinghus (DEN) v Qiao Bin (CHN) - Jeon Hyeok Jin (KOR) v Marc Zwiebler (GER) - Wei Nan (HKG) v Chou Tien Chen (TPE) - Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk (THA) v Lee Hyun Il (KOR) - Vincent Wong Wing Ki (HKG) v Viktor Axelsen (DEN) - Sayaka Sato (JPN) v Tai Tzu Ying (TPE) - Busanan Ongbamrungphan (THA) v Chen Yufei (CHN) - Kim GJ/Ko SH (KOR) v Astrup/Rasmussen (DEN) - Fukuman/Yonao (JPN) v Ou DN/Yu XH (CHN) - Stoeva/Stoeva (BUL) v Fukushima/Hirota (JPN) - Adcock/Adcock (ENG) v Kim GJ/Shin SC (KOR) Yonex Open Japan 2016 marks the second half of BWF World Superseries tour that will be culminated on December Dubai Finals, three-month hiatus since Aussie Open last June. Most of elite players return to their routinity after badminton Rio Olympic Games was wrapped up exactly one month ago, on 20th August. European number one Denmark brings full force team to Tokyo while badminton powerhouse China has smaller squad this time. Three-time Olympic silver medalist Lee Chong Wei had dumped Rio sad ending to eye 6th Japan Open victory, the Malaysian hero won the crown five times previously (2007, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014). His possible closest rival to add Superseries title collection would be two Danish stars, last year beaten finalist also Rio bronze medalist Viktor Axelsen and third seed Jan O Jorgensen as China aces, Lin Dan and Rio Olympics Gold Medalist Chen Long are taking temporary break. Interesting to follow two surprising Superseries winner this year, the unseeded Hans Kristian Vittinghus and Sony Dwi Kuncoro journey in Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium, they stole the limelight in Sydney and Singapore respectively. Other familiar faces completed top eight seeding position, Tian Houwei, Chou Tien Chen, Son Wan Ho, Tommy Sugiarto and Srikanth Kidambi. Both recent Olympic Gold Medalist and sliver medalist Carolina Marin, P.V Sindhu respectively have pulled out, still busy to attend many functions following their Rio successful. Defending champion and local starlet Nozomi Okuhara who succeeded to bag bronze medal in Rio will be highly favourite alongside with Ratchanok Intanon, Thai former World Champion had sensational hat-trick Superseries title in first quarter of 2016 but suffered early exit in Rio will bounce back to win another triumphant here. 2012 Champion, Tai Tzu Ying who performed best in INA Premier will be motivated to repeat that feat in Tokyo. Other notable names in the fray, 2013 champion Akane Yamaguchi and two Chinese young hopefuls, Sun Yu and He Bingjiao. Men’s doubles category has new constellation post Rio Olympics regarding Lee/Yoo, Fu HF/Zhang N, Kim SR/Kim GJ, Ko SH/Shin BC find their career finish line and Ahsan/Setiawan soon. World number four, Chai/Hong occupy number one seed, they will be challenged by Korean new scratch pair or Danes Astrup/Rasmussen and possibly Endo/Hayakawa at last four. The reigning World Champion and tournament second seed Indonesian pair, two-time All England winner Boe/Mogensen, Rio silver medalist Goh VS/Tan WK are drawn at lower half of draw. China and Korea start to build up experimenting combinations, Liu Xiaolong/Lu Kai, Liu Cheng/Zheng Siwei, Kim Gi Jung/Ko Sung Hyun. Current Dubai SS Finals top ranked Matsutomo/Takahashi who presented Japan’s first gold medal at Olympic arena will be strong contender to retain their 2014 title. Their fellow countrywomen Fukuman/Yonao or Chinese combination Ou DN/Yu XH considerably may trouble the world number one en route to final round. On the opposite draw, Rio silver medalist Pedersen/Juhl are expected to clear early rounds and will set up a quarterfinal meeting with Malaysian 8th seed Vivian Hoo/Woon KW. Another local seeded pair, Matsuo/Naito are slated to face Luo twin sisters at last eight. Two Chinese prominent pairs, the multiple champion Zhang Nan/Zhao Yunlei and their teammates Xu Chen/Ma Jin are no longer exist in international tournament, China is trying to push younger generation to replace their position. The frontrunner world number two Ko SH/Kim HN who displayed flopped performance in Rio will make amends to be top finisher here also defending champion Danish veteran Fischer/Pedersen as well. The high confidence Rio silver medalist Chan PS/Goh LY, Dubai Finals Champion The Adcocks, Chinese promising talent Zheng SW/Chen QC, the on-fire Lu K/Huang YQ are remaining five seeded pairs in this department. *Player's Withdrawal : - Zulfadli Zulkiffli (MAS) - Carolina Marin (ESP) - Pusarla Venkatta Sindhu (IND) - Lindaweni Fanetri (INA) - Huang Yaqiong/Tang Jinhua (CHN) - Chen Qingchen/Tang Yuanting (CHN) - Liu Yuchen/Tang Jinhua (CHN) - Mathias Christiansen/Lena Grebak (DEN) - Praveen Jordan/Debby Susanto (INA) QUALIFICATION (10.00am, 5 courts) => http://www.tournamentsoftware.com/sport/matches.aspx?id=6AB43E80-2B5D-4B28-9B14-8133B6F6FDA4 A stiff competition of Men's Singles category is started from qualifying round, local players Takuma Ueda, Kazumasa Sakai, Riichi Takeshita, etc.will hunt main draw ticket, find stern test from foreign challengers, Goh Soon Huat, Heo Kwang Hee, Emil Holst and three Chinese players, Shi Yuqi, Huang Yuxiang and Xue Song.
Men's singles first round matches of qualification stage have been completed where some close encounters happened. Local player Takuma Ueda had scary escape to save two match points against Dane Emil Holst before bounced back in third game, 15-21 / 22-20 / 21-15. Also Thailand Pannawit Thongnuam made good comeback at deciding game to win over 2013 World Junior Champion Heo Kwang Hee narrowly, 21-15 / 12-21 / 23-21. Another marathon clash saw Danish young star Anders Antonsen eliminated more experienced Kazumasa Sakai, 22-20 / 16-21 / 21-11. Two Chinese players passed opening round, Xue Song and Shi Yuqi but Huang Yuxiang didn't make it, lost 15-21 / 18-21 to Thailand's Khosit Phetpradab. MS Qualification's Second Round : - Riichi Takeshita (JPN) v Pannawit Thongnuam (THA) - Takuma Ueda (JPN) v Khosit Phetpradab (THA) - Parupalli Kashyap (IND) v Anders Antonsen (DEN) - Xue Song (CHN) v Shi Yuqi (CHN)
All four local WS players are already progressed, overall 12 representatives in main draw, strong presence by the host. It's contrary to MS discipline when 27 years old Riichi Takeshita is the only one home player who qualified and will take on third seed Jan O Jorgensen tomorrow. MS Qualifiers : Riichi Takeshita (JPN), Khosit Phetpradab (THA), Parupalli Kashyap (IND), Shi Yuqi (CHN) WS Qualifiers (all Japan) : Sayaka Takahashi, Saena Kawakami, Chisato Hoshi, Natsuki Nidaira. ROUND OF 32 (10.00am local time, 5 courts) => https://www.tournamentsoftware.com/...B43E80-2B5D-4B28-9B14-8133B6F6FDA4&d=20160921
I think Huang Yuxiang is still somewhat affected by his right hip injury sustained at the INA Masters final with Shi Yuqi. Xue Song is probably still not fully match fit, losing to compatriot Shi Yuqi, in identical score of 21-17.
How strong is the Japanese singles though!? It says a lot when Sayaka has to go through qualifiers...
The in-form Shi Yuqi stunned 8th seed Tommy Sugiarto convincingly, 21-15 / 21-7. A promising youngster so far...
World #26 Hsu Jen Hao scores first ever win over China number three Tian Houwei after lost five times previously in one of longest MS match that hitted exactly 1 hour and 30 minutes, 17-21 / 21-14 / 21-12.
Veteran Lee Hyun Il, even at the age of 48,despite motivation issues, can go toe to toe with anyone. His mental strength is as immense as Himalaya.
Kashyap knows Kidambi's game inside out, I think only his physicality and age can stop him from winning this match.