CHN using a totally new setup against the once WR1 JPN pair is pushing it. Well, she must have her reasons, and priorities; after all, this isn't the Uber Cup.
INA without Tommy as MS1 may seem more vulnerable but having the three youngsters doing duty isn't totally without chances, at least they have what I considered the underdog advantage as well as the element of surprise.
It's wise for INA to field young players in all the matches. Though they lose against JPN today but a good fight will show that INA's young players are rising.
I really wish to see all five matches played between CHN and JPN - HGJ's game is what I don't want to miss.
It takes a lot of time to build rapport and mutual understanding i doubles play, and that's what's clearly lacking here in LYing/TQ.
Oh dear this match is clearly favouring Japan to win again. Looks like it is going to be 2-0 to Japan.
For India Asian Team Championship Bronze is a step in the right direction. It is not a big medal but it matters and will give the current team confidence for bigger medals. India last won a Team Medal at the 1986 Asian Games in Seoul. That Bronze medal was equal to Gold for India given the formidable and magical Indonesian, Chinese and Malaysian players of that time. The players (Prakash Padukone, Vimal Kumar, Uday Pawar among others) won it on their individual brilliance. Mentally they were very strong. Doubles was a major weakness for India. That medal was very special and is the benchmark for India's Men Team. At that time, BAI was considered hostile to players who got no support from the system and funded themselves.
Yeah, they managed to suprise the KOR WD1 yesterday, but I believe the JPN coaches have watched the match closely and found loopholes in the CHN new pairing. The element of surprise is totally gone for the CHN WD, Luo Ying/Tian Qing.
It is the strategy that matters. Park Joo Bong is very good at strategies and he knows how to analyse the opponents game plan very well. This has eventually been a great help to the Japanese team.