NEWS : All Stars gathers in 6* China Open next week.

source: BadmintonCentral.com

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]China Open 2004 will take place in Guangzhou, China from 9th to 14th of November. This edition of the China Open will be a 6* IBF Open with a wealthy prizes totaling US$250,000.[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Almost all large badminton nations are participating this year with their best players with the exception of Korea, who is resting their most senior players and sending their new and upcoming players to the largest open tournament of the year.[/font]

Here is a glimpse of the draw.

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Men’s Singles[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]In men’s singles, it will be a tough competition no matter where the players are in the draw.[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The top quarter we see first seed the all but Olympics conqueror of 2004 Lin Dan (CHN), Chen Hong (CHN), Olympics QF Boonsak Polsana (THA).[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The 2nd quarter we will see ABC champion Sony Dwi Kuncoro (INA) , Wong ChoongHann (MAS) as well as Danish imperial guard Kenneth Jonassen (DEN).[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Bao Chunlai (CHN) and Xia Xuanze (CHN) will see little resistance in the 3rd quarter until they meet each other to fight for a spot in the semi-finals.[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Peter Gade (DEN) will likely face Chen Yu (CHN) in the second round and eventually meet Taufik Hidayat (INA), who will be playing his first international tournament after his Gold medal performance in the Olympics.[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Women’s Singles[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]With the absence of Mia Audina (NED), Chinese girls will unlikely to meet much resistance in the WS event.[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Newlywed Zhang Ning (CHN) will face duo crown Dutch/Danish open champion Xie Xingfang (CHN) in the first quarter. According to Zhang Ning, she will compete for another year to defend her WC title after her brilliant Gold medal performance in the Olympics.[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]European rival Pi Hongyan (FRA) and Yao Jie (NED) will face each other in the 2nd round for yet another rematch after their Dutch and Danish Open meetings.[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Zhou Mi (CHN) in the 3rd quarter will be smooth sail till the semifinal, the only small hurdle for her will be Xu Huaiwei (GER).[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]TV star potential Gong Ruina (CHN) will face Wang Chen (HKG) in the 4th quarter.[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Men’s double[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Men’s double sees a few notable changes in the lineup.[/font]



[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]1997 WC Candra Wijaya/Sigit Budiarto (INA) have reunited yet again. This will be their first international match after the re-unification. Candra/Sigit will be in the 2nd quarter along with Cai Yun/Fu Haifeng (CHN)[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]New pairs Choong Tan Fook/Chew Choon Eng and Chan Choong Ming/Koo Kien Keat have been forged in the Malaysia team during their shut-out after the Olympics.[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Chan/Koo will face 1st seed badminton elders Jens Eriksen/Martin Lungaard Hansen in the 1st quarter.[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The 3rd quarter has Sang Yang/Zheng Bo (CHN) and recent Dutch Open champions, our BadmintonCentral.com friend Thomas Laybourn/Peter Steffensen (DEN).[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Another BadmintonCentral.com pro, reigning world champion Jonas Rasmussen/Lars Paaske (DEN) are situated at the bottom quarter with Choong/Chew (MAS) and Simon Archer/Anthony Clark (ENG) in their way.[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Notable missing from the lineup is Olympics Gold/Silver medalists Kim/Ha and Lee/Yoo of Korea. Kim is current missing (probably on vacation) while Lee/Yoo have retired. They will surely be missed.[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Women’s doubles[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]With the pending retirement of Ra Kyung Min (KOR), the young pairing of Lee Kyung Won/Lee Hyo Jung emerging from Korea. They will be a very formidable pair from their individual strength, but without the on-court vision and wisdom of the great Ra, how will they fare?[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]We will soon see when they face the reigning Olympics gold medalists Yang Wei/Zhang Jiewen in the first quarter.[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Two younger pair Zhang Dan/Zhang Yawen (CHN) and Du Jing/Yu Yang(CHN) will be guarding the 2nd quarter.[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The 3rd quarter is relatively open, Saralee/Sathinee(THA) and Wong Pei Tty/Chin Eei Hui(MAS) will try to make a mark by entering the semi-finals.[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Olympics silver medalists Gao Ling/Huang Sui (CHN) will unlikely let anybody pass them in the 4th quarter.[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Mixed doubles[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Olympics finalist Nathan Robertson/Gail Emms (ENG) will have a chance to level with Zhang Jun/Gao Ling (CHN) for their Olympics lost in the 1st quarter. They are probably the two strongest pairings now in the world aside from Kim/Ra.[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Jens Eriksen/Mette Schjoldager (DEN) stands rather comfortably in the 2nd quarter while Robert Blair/Natalie Munt (ENG) will likely fight for a semi-final spot with Saralee/Sudket (THA).[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]That leaves Kim Yong Hyun/Lee Hyo Jung and Chen Qiqiu/Zhao Tingting vying for the remaining place in the semi-final from the 4th quarter.[/font]