As predicted all home favourites marching into last round, will they conclude this tournament with top prize? Clearly, Chinese Taipei has no star players in mixed and women's doubles disciplines.
It's like practice session for Tai TY how she beat opponents en route to the final, the well-improved Hsu Wen-chi who nailed several IC titles recently becomes semifinal victim of her senior teammate crafty skill, a brief comeback created by Hsu at last stage of second game when she saved 7 match points as Tai made a string of casual and uncharateristic shots. Perhaps, the good retriever Kawakami could delivering serious challenge for home darling to bag 5th WS crown at home soil.
Chou TC had arduous test in preliminary round, getting better and more comfortably in next proceeding including commanding fashion to outclass Soong JV in semis. Japan rising star Naraoka scores two successive final after edged past the upstart Lin CY in very balanced contest, the home hopeful had nice attacking shots, deadly smash but losing patient unfortunately in last two critical points.
The Olympic Champions desperately need victory to expel barren spell that haunting them post Tokyo Olympics last summer, displaying significant downward inclination since then, never passed quarterfinal stage in just concluded SEA BWF tours. Fourth-ranked MAS combination and Syed Modi International winners Man WC/Tee KW surely aren't regular foes for Lee/Wang but men's doubles matches often spring unpredictable outcome.