The Best SS Performers of 2014 SS [TABLE="width: 500"] [TR] [TD]Rank [/TD] [TD]Country [/TD] [TD]MS [/TD] [TD]WS [/TD] [TD]MD [/TD] [TD]WD [/TD] [TD]XD [/TD] [TD] Total [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD] 1. [/TD] [TD]China [/TD] [TD]1 [/TD] [TD]2 [/TD] [TD]2 [/TD] [TD]2 [/TD] [TD]2 [/TD] [TD]9 [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]2. [/TD] [TD]Korea [/TD] [TD]1 [/TD] [TD]2 [/TD] [TD]2 [/TD] [TD]2 [/TD] [TD]1 [/TD] [TD] 8 [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]3. [/TD] [TD]Japan [/TD] [TD]2 [/TD] [TD]1 [/TD] [TD]1 [/TD] [TD]2 [/TD] [TD]- [/TD] [TD] 6 [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]4. [/TD] [TD]Denmark [/TD] [TD]2 [/TD] [TD]- [/TD] [TD]1 [/TD] [TD]1 [/TD] [TD]1 [/TD] [TD] 5 [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]5. [/TD] [TD]Indonesia [/TD] [TD]1 [/TD] [TD]- [/TD] [TD]1 [/TD] [TD]1 [/TD] [TD]1 [/TD] [TD] 4 [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]6. [/TD] [TD]India [/TD] [TD]1 [/TD] [TD]1 [/TD] [TD]- [/TD] [TD]- [/TD] [TD]- [/TD] [TD] 2 [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]6. [/TD] [TD]Taipei [/TD] [TD]- [/TD] [TD]1 [/TD] [TD]1 [/TD] [TD]- [/TD] [TD]- [/TD] [TD] 2 [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]6. [/TD] [TD]Thailand [/TD] [TD]- [/TD] [TD]1 [/TD] [TD]- [/TD] [TD]- [/TD] [TD]1 [/TD] [TD] 2 [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]7. [/TD] [TD]England [/TD] [TD]- [/TD] [TD]- [/TD] [TD]- [/TD] [TD]- [/TD] [TD]1 [/TD] [TD] 1 [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]7. [/TD] [TD]Germany [/TD] [TD]- [/TD] [TD]- [/TD] [TD]- [/TD] [TD]- [/TD] [TD]1 [/TD] [TD] 1 [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD][/TD] [TD]Total [/TD] [TD]8 [/TD] [TD]8 [/TD] [TD]8 [/TD] [TD]8 [/TD] [TD]8 [/TD] [TD]40 [/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] The BWF 2014 SS Calendar is drawing to a close, except for the SS Finals to be held in Dubai from 17-21 December 2014. China remains the indisputable top badminton nation with the maximum participation in all 5 events, except for the unlikely MS, no thanks to LD or WZM. The other powerhouses did not disappoint either, namely KOR, JPN, DEN and INA, but while KOR, like CHN, is represented in all the events, the rest still have gaps in between. Of the lot, INA seems the weakest with only one representation in all events except the WS. But INA's MD is expected to triumph. The new Thomas Cup champion, Japan, is doing great at third position behind China and Korea although one would expect another slot in the MD, their strongest department by far. Denmark sorely needed another great lady in the mould of 2001 World Champion, Carmilla Martin, fast if she were to challenge the other top nations in all events. Denmark's top players are also relatively old. The only glaring exception is MAS, which has fallen out of the top nations picture completely with the unfortunate suspension of superstar LCW. The fact that MAS can only count on the Dato is a sad reminder of the unsatisfactory state of affairs with Malaysian badminton. Hopefully with the recall of the great Morten Frost as "chief coach" early next year, Malaysian fortunes can turn around sooner than later. On the other hand, it is good to see hitherto less known nations making their mark. India, Taipei and Thailand all have two representations each. India is obviously strong in MS and WS, while TPE and THA will challenge IND in WS. Europe is not forgotten as both England and Germany, a pleasant surprise, will both give their all in XD. For the rest of this week, we will have a great badminton feast together. Which country will win the most titles? China for sure? But how many and most likely in which of the 5 events? Most unlikely in MD right, which should go either to INA or KOR I guess? Choose Your Probable Winners: MS - CHN, DEN or KOR WS - CHN, TPE or THA MD - INA, KOR or DEN WD - CHN, JPN or INA XD - CHN, INA or ENG Or others not shown above. Good Luck!
Anyway bad draw for Ina md and wd With two Chn pairs in their group, the best chance for GreyNit are to beat Lou twins, but thats even questionable with Miyuki and Reika are also there, ZYL/TQ fav to top this group. They should have better chance in other group Ahsan and Hendra are also not drawn in good group, in fact they are in hell group, with 2 Koreans
INA unfortunate of course.. On paper I find the draw exciting as far as IND perspectives are concerned.. KS has a good chance against TS Its 50-50 against KM(being a LH) JOJ is expected to seal easily so KS has a fab chance of reaching SF at his very first SSF.. Whereas SN seems to have exactly the same draw as KS.. Winning against SJH ..50-50 against BYJ(she is also @ leftie)and most probably loosing to WSX well I should say it will be the old familiar case of reaching SF and loosing against CHN top players!! (WYH in this case)
Finally TS link : http://www.tournamentsoftware.com/sport/tournament.aspx?id=B1E52F19-28D0-462F-B25C-68AE72AF1520
Draw Sets Dubai Blockbusters => http://www.bwfbadminton.org/news_item.aspx?id=90313 In MS, top-seed Chen Long must face his two nemesis, Son Wan Ho and Kenichi Tago who may derail his winning chance here while Jorgensen is clear favourite in group B. WS group A, relatively tough for all players as they often meet in SS circuit. And group B, former champion Wang YH is surrounded by three talented youngsters, Tai TY, Intanon and Yamaguchi.
GROUPS: MEN'S SINGLES: Group A: Chen Long (China), Son Wan Ho (Korea), Kenichi Tago (Japan), Hans-Kristian Vittinghus (Denmark) Group B: Jan O Jorgensen (Denmark), Kidambi Srikanth (India), Kento Momota (Japan), Tommy Sugiarto (Indonesia) WOMEN'S SINGLES: Group A: Wang Shixian (China), Saina Nehwal (India), Sung Ji Hyun (Korea), Bae Yeon Ju (Korea) Group B: Wang Yihan (China), Ratchanok Intanon (Thailand), Tai Tzu Ying (Chinese Taipei), Akane Yamaguchi (Japan) MEN'S DOUBLES: Group A: Lee Yong Dae/Yoo Yeon Seong (Korea); Mohammad Ahsan/Hendra Setiawan (Indonesia); Chai Biao/ Hong Wei (China); Ko Sung Hyun/ Shin Baek Choel (Korea) Group B: Lee Sheng Mu/ Tsai Chia Hsin (Chinese Taipei); Hiroyuki Endo/ Kenichi Hayakawa (Japan); Liu Xiaolong/ Qiu Zihan (China); Mathias Boe/ Carsten Mogensen (Denmark) WOMEN'S DOUBLES: Group A: Misaki Matsutomo/ Ayaka Takahashi (Japan); Christinna Pedersen/ Kamilla Rytter Juhl (Denmark); Jung Kyung Eun/ Kim Ha Na (Korea); Chang Ye Na/ Kim So Yeong (Korea) Group B: Reika Kakiiwa/ Miyuki Maeda (Japan); Tian Qing/ Zhao Yunlei (China); Nitya Krishinda Maheswari/ Greysia Polii (Indonesia); Luo Ying/ Luo Yu (China) MIXED DOUBLES: Group A: Zhang Nan/ Zhao Yunlei (China); Ko Sung Hyun/ Kim Ha Na (Korea); Chris Adcock/ Gabrielle Adcock (England); Michael Fuchs/ Birgit Michels (Germany) Group B: Tontowi Ahmad/ Liliyana Natsir (Indonesia); Sudket Prapakamol/ Saralee Thoungthongkam (Thailand); Joachim Fischer Nielsen/ Christinna Pedersen (Denmark); Liu Cheng/ Bao Yixin (China)
http://www.bwfbadminton.org/news_item.aspx?id=90313 Former Men’s Singles No.1 Peter Gade of Denmark, offering his views on the groups, called Men’s Singles Group A the “group of death”, with Chen Long bracketed with recent nemesis Son. The Korean beat him twice this year: in the Asian Games team event and in the Hong Kong Open final. MEN'S SINGLES:- Group A: Chen Long (China), Son Wan Ho (Korea), Kenichi Tago (Japan), Hans-Kristian Vittinghus (Denmark) Chen Long’s visible grimace when Son’s name was pulled, was an indication he knows the testing times ahead. Tago brought some sincere humour to the situation, stating candidly: “I would prefer to be in Group B!” Group B: Jan O Jorgensen (Denmark), Kidambi Srikanth (India), Kento Momota (Japan), Tommy Sugiarto (Indonesia)
As Gade has mentioned, and Tago indicated, the Group A is a "group of death", and a tough one to predict the outcome. As a badminton fan, I'm waiting impatiently for the most exciting encounters in this SS Final. The suspension/withdrawal of LCW, absence of LD, recent form of CL, SWH's recent resurrection into top 5 of the world, and new faces of KM, KS all made this years MS, the most exciting..
And I was surprised to find that there have been no matches (at least in the history of bwf-records in TS), between JOJ vs TS.. Jan O JORGENSEN - MS-Ranking 3 (Best: 3, 12/11/2014) Tommy SUGIARTO - MS-Ranking 5 (Best: 3, 4/10/2014)
I agree it will be a very exciting Finals and we have not long to wait! In MS the "Group of Death" will be closely watched as CL must be wary of his group rivals, especially SWH. An upset here will make it more interesting. But someone mentioned the "Group of Hell", which must be worse. And it refers to the MD Group A, where the current best doubles have to challenge each other to advance ahead. Can INA prevail against two outstanding KOR pairs?
Men's Doubles Group A is also a tough one, having current WR#1 (Lee/Yoo), WR#2 (Ahsan/Setiawan), WC(KSH/SBC), and ChaiBiao/HongWei all in group A.. Group A: Lee Yong Dae/Yoo Yeon Seong (Korea); Mohammad Ahsan/Hendra Setiawan (Indonesia); Chai Biao/ Hong Wei (China); Ko Sung Hyun/ Shin Baek Choel (Korea)
Also I'll be more than interested to watch how WYH handles the new sensation, Akane YAMAGUCHI. Group B: Wang Yihan (China), Ratchanok Intanon (Thailand), Tai Tzu Ying (Chinese Taipei), Akane Yamaguchi (Japan)
"The Young Ones Shouldn't Be Afraid" Yes indeed! Elder sis WYH will have a torrid time against her young aspirants!
A Tribute to Two Ladies Two ladies, one from CHN and the other from DEN, have qualified in two events, the WD and XD. Zhao Yunlei and Christinna Pedersen hold the distinction of appearing in the two doubles events. But will they be overtaxed and end up with nothing? My better bet is on ZYL winning at least one of the events, perhaps the WD with Tian Qing.
