*Stade Pierre de Coubertin (25-30 October 2016)* M/Q Report version 1 (15th September 2016) : http://system.bwfbadminton.com/uploads/2016/09/15/French Open SS 2016 - M & Q Report Version 1 (Updated Thursday, 15th September 2016).xlsx DRAW date : 4th October 2016 At the glimpse, the entry list looks alike Denmark Premier, Chinese Men's singles star Lin Dan and Chen Long will skip this tournament, China once again will be represented by their upcoming players Shi Yuqi, Huang Yuxiang, Qiao Bin, Xue Song to accompany world number six Tian Houwei. Indonesia promising youngsters, Ihsan-Jonatan-Anthony return to compete in high-level competition after miss JPN & KOR also DEN Open as well. Women's singles discipline saw four of top-ten world rank will not fly to Paris, Saina Nehwal and Chinese trio. China needs to rebuild their strength as Wang Yihan has announced retirement, Li Xuerui is still recuperating from knee surgery, not sure about Wang Shixian. They have not many option now, both Sun Yu and He Bingjiao are expected to break elite level soon. In mixed doubles category, Olympic Champion Zhang Nan will start new partnership with Li Yinhui.
Wang Shixian is also confirmed retired, together with Wang Yihan,as both have their names removed from the BWF ranking list.
Xue Song skipped the DEN Open PSS but he's playing here even though he has to start at the qualies. Hope to see him return to full match fitness soon. He injured himself at the AE in March, tearing his lateral meniscus and I was surprised he returned to competition in barely six months' time, beginning with the INA Masters in Sep, followed by the JPN Open SS and the KOR Open SS, all of which he suffered early exits. Let's see how he performs after a little less than a month's break. I know he's keen to get back into form as quickly as possible but , if I'm not wrong, 6 months layoff till mid-September to recuperate from his knee injury, is normal, it can't be rushed. I think he'd need another three months, say until December, to be completely match fit and start showing the result he's capable of. At the moment, I'm not optimistic he can go deep in this tournament esp when he has to play two additional matches in the qualification rounds, more than those in the main draw. How the draw turns out may have a bearing on his progress. Meanwhile, it's advisable for him to bear in mind, more haste,less speed.
Chen Long is still taking his post-Olympic break, understandably. Lin Dan is probably mulling his retirement and considering which tournament to be his swan song , I suspect.
DRAW as published yesterday => http://system.bwfbadminton.com/uplo...RAW (Updated Tuesday, 04th October 2016).xlsx Some MS seeded players will take on challenging opponent at opening round, Tian Houwei v Ihsan Maulana Mustofa, Srikanth Kidambi v Rajiv Ouseph, Jan O Jorgensen v Marc Zwiebler and Chou Tien Chen v Vincent Wong Wing Ki. Defending champion Lee Chong Wei should have no problem to pass Hsu Jen Hao and will meet either Wei Nan or Wang Tzu Wei in last sixteen, then Son Wan Ho and Tian HW or Srikanth at next two rounds. Second seed Viktor Axelsen is expected to overcome Jeon Hyeok Jin at very first round, Lee Hyul Il or Praneeth will be his next test, followed by Chou Tien Chen and his senior compatriot Jorgensen. The Olympic Champion Carolina Marin has two Japanese players Akane Yamaguchi, Nozomi Okuhara and Chinese Sun Yu in her path to final, both Yamaguchi and Okuhara will be tested by Thailand rival at first round, Porntip and Busanan respectively. On lower-half of draw, possible quarterfinal scenario will pit Korean number one Sung Ji Hyun against INA Premier winner Tai Tzu Ying and second seed Ratchanok Intanon is lated to face either Rio silver medalist P.V. Sindhu or Chinese new star He Bingjiao in last eight.
Shi Yuqi and Tian Houwei , if they pass R1, are on course to meet in R2. Not a balanced draw for CHN MS who are all lumped in the top half.
He Bingjiao, PV Sindhu and Intanon R , all in the same 4th quadrant. Carolina Marin as the 1st seed is expected to sail into the semifinals unless Akane Yamaguchi stops her in the QFs while Sun Yu and Nozomi Okuhara in the 2nd quadrant might have to grapple with each other to see who gets to take on either Marin or Akane in the semis. Chen Yufei is absent from this event,a bit disappointed, and she's not registered for the DEN Open SSP as well. The WJC is in November, it should be very good training for her under tournament conditions to compete in these two top level events, to toughen and prepare her earlier for her transition to the senior level next year when she turns 19.
Correct quite a number of players have withdrawn from this French Open. For every category from MS, WS, MD, WD and XD all have players who have withdrawn.
