To check the Entries of the India Open 2008, click the following link:- http://www.internationalbadminton.org/indiaopengp/index.html
Quite a reasonable contingent from INA: MS Simon, Andre, Alam, Tommy, and Adit WS Nana, Aprillia MD Joko-Hendra, Bona-Ahsan, Rian-Yoke, Tantowi-Rijal WD Natalia-Yulianti and uh... forgot... XD Rijal-Greysia, Tantowi-Yulianti, Devin-Lita
Ok, here's what I missed MD Devin-Anggun, Dani-Chayut [INA-SIN] WD Rani-Endang, Jo-Greysia, Lita-Nitya XD Anggun-Endang, Dani-Vanessa [INA-SIN]
INA will send youngsters to Hyderabad and quite surprise to look China participant, they bring strong squad in WS and MS (except LD). Hopefully no cancellation for this tournament!
Hendra Wijaya will be partering Yoga Ukikasah. Looks like Eng Hian is done with Hendri/Hendra and decides to split them up???
With the strong entries from China and Korea, a title here will again be considered a miracle (like the German Open 2008). This is a time for the potential players to show their worth as usual! Men's Singles Simon Santoso -- to fulfill his seeding and enter the SF. To prepare himself for the upcoming Thomas Cup. He SHOULD participate here and in the Badminton Asia Championships a fortnight later. A SF victory against either of the 3 Chinese players will be a bonus (hopefully Chen Yu)! Potential opponents in QF: Park Sung Hwan, Boonsak Ponsana, Shoji Sato and Wong Choong Hann. Andre Kurniawan Tedjono -- likely to be among the top 16 seeds as well. As long as he does not meet Lu Yi or Zhu Weilun, he should fulfill his seeding. However, I am looking forward to an encounter between Andre and Tommy Sugiarto....a straight fight for the Thomas Cup's 4th MS position. That's what PBSI is hoping too I guess. As for Tommy Sugiarto and Alamsyah Yunus -- they are expected to clear in the opening round (R64) and any further performance will be a bonus. They could sneak into R16 if they receive a good draw. For Andreas Adityawarman, clearing the first round alone is a good result. Women's Singles Not much is hoped for Fransisca Ratnasari and Aprillia Yuswandari. With a couple of withdrawals, Nana will make it to the main draw. Aprillia could possible qualify too. Women's Doubles Rani Mundiasti/Endang Nursugianti -- last two chances for winning the points required for qualification. They should be one of the top 8 seeds and they SHOULD fulfill their seedings. Jo Novita/Greysia Polii -- the same goes for Jo/Grace...they could get a top 8 seeding with one more withdrawal. A kind draw will also boost their chance for SF or even a Final finish since they have beaten the Japanese pairs lately. The most difficult opponent will be Chien Yu-Chin/Cheng Wen-Hsing. As for Yulianti/Nathalia Poluakan and Lita Nurlita/Nitya Krishinda, time for them to win valuable ranking pts to improve their position. They are at least expected to clear the first round.
Men's Doubles What a list for the MD.....with Tony/Candra, Jung/Lee, Lee/Hwang, Guo/Xie, the 2 Japanese and Chinese-Taipei pairs. This is gonna be exciting. Tony Gunawan/Candra Wijaya -- they are likely to be the 2nd seed here and anything less than a SF finish will be a disaster. They will need to win a title here...with no participation from either the top 4 pairs. Hendra A. Gunawan/Joko Riyadi -- expected to be seeded in the top 8 and anything less than a QF finish will not be acceptable If they are performing well, they could reach the SF. Rian Sukmawan/Yonathan Suryatama Dasuki -- tough for the Djarum pair, nevertheless, with a good draw, a QF finish is attainable. Bona Septano/Mohd Ahsan -- PBSI's future prospect....they are expected to win at least a match and hopefully with a kind draw, reaching the QF (which is a big big achievement)! For the scratch pairs: Anggun Nugroho/Devin Lahardi and Mohd Rijal/Tantowi Ahmad, winning a match will be a bonus for either of them. Rijal/Towi should qualify for the main draw. Mixed Doubles: Likewise, with the participation from the defending champion He/Yu, Sudket/Saralee, and Lee/Lee; a title in XD will be almost impossible. Devin Lahardi/Lita Nurlita -- INA's backup pair will be expected to reach the QF to fulfill their seeding. They might stand a chance for a SF finish like last year if they are drawn against Mateusiak/Kostiuczyk. Mohd Rijal/Greysia Polii -- likely to miss out on the top 8 seed, unless 1 of the 8 pairs above them withdraw. However, they stand a chance against the top 8 seed and I expect them to finish at least in QF (unless they are drawn against Devin/Lita in R16) or even SF. Tantowi Ahmad/Yulianti -- PBSI's future prospect is expected to clear at least R32. A QF finish will be a major bonus for them! Anggun Nugroho/Endang Nursugianti -- they will have to qualify for the main draw, unless there are withdrawals. They should qualify though....given the quality of the opponents in the qualifying rounds.
I think Simon will meet top two seed (BCL or Chen Jin) in possible semifinal scenario based on his seeding (#4), because Chen Yu gets seeding number 3 for upcoming India Open.
Zhang Ning and Wang Yi Han withdrew.....I guess ZN is pretty safe for OG 08. Xu is still in question.....
i must say, i've very impressed with the line up for this tournament, looks like we're going to have some interesting matches. i'm curous why there are only 4 seeds for the WD ...
May be...I lookt at it..will be about 23 pairs so far....will be less by that time the tournament starts
Yeah, WD has the smallest number of participant at this tourney since ONLY 4 pairs get seeding position. Simon's participation to compete in India will be decided by this week World Ranking (March 20, 2008) as consideration. Hendrawan, INA MS Coach said if Simon position is still in top-10, he may skip this India Open -- (KOMPAS, March 18/2008). I think Simon WR will likely flop because his absence from SUI SS last week when he was runner-up of that event last year.
The Draw is Out! Men's Singles Andre Kurniawan Tedjonono R64: vs JBS Vidyadhar -- easy meat R32: vs Chan Yan Kit -- tough 2nd match! R16: vs Chen Yu [3] -- possible another encounter against Chen Yu! Alamsyah Yunus R32: vs Bao Chunlai [1] -- bye2 Alam Andreas Adityawarman R64: vs Chetan Anand -- unlikely to progress further Women's Singles Fransisca Ratnasari R32: vs Soratja Chansrisukot -- a tough opener. R16: vs Yip Pui Yin -- bye2 Nana Women's Doubles Jo Novita/Greysia Polii R32: vs Amelia Alicia Anscelly/Chong Sock Chin -- should be manageable R16: vs Jiang Yanmei/Li Yujia [3] -- a huge match for place in the last 8 and if they this one, should have a good chance of reaching the Final. QF: vs Kamilla Augustyn/Nadiezda Kostiuczyk SF: vs Satoko Suetsuna/Miyuki Maeda [2] Rani Mundiasti/Endang Nursugianti R32: vs Ng Poau Leng/Lim Yin Loo -- easy opener R16: vs Aki Akao/Tomomi Matsuda [4] -- another Nippon gals for Rani/Endang means another early exit! Lita Nurlita/Nitya Krishinda R32: BYE R16: vs Yang Chia-Chen/Chou Chia-Chi -- a tricky match against the improving CT pair. It will represent a valuable 3850 ranking pts for Lita/Nitya if they can progress to QF. QF: vs Satoko Suetsuna/Miyuki Maeda [2] Nathalia Poluakan/Yulianti R32: vs Shinta Mulia Sari/Yao Lei -- a huge match....Lia's experience should prove useful here. R16: vs Nicole Grether/Juliane Schenk -- tough to progress beyond R16 against the experienced GER pair. QF: vs Aki Akao/Tomomi Matsuda [4]
