...*thanks for the light humor*..One obvious thing for Asian ladies players to learn from their Russian counterpart is the way they dress. I believe this is easier to do, no hours of training needed, just hours of shopping.
It will definitely increase the game popularity by a few notches.
I was informed today that PBSI will send their 2nd tier players such as Tommy Sugiarto, Andreas Adityawarman, Pia, Bona-Ahsan, Tantowi-Yulianti, Rizal-Devi etc. to the Russian Open. The final list is yet to be disclosed. Their schedule will be Korea Challenge + Russian Open. With some of the interning "magang" young athletes playing only in Korea Challenge.
In addition to PBSI, the Djarum Badminton club will also send 10 INA athletes there. The list possibly include Andre, Wahyu, Hayom, Rian, Yoke, Fran, Rendra, Febe, Sylvi, Fira... No Mel-Shendy this time... Unlike the PBSI athletes, the Djarum kids will go to the Russian Open and the Italian Challenge...
Xu Huai wen was injured yesterday after playing Wang Lin...She might skip HK open as well as Russian open as it was quite bad...( according to her).....Interestingly, Chen Yu, Chen Hong, Xu Huawen, and Pi Hongyan all participated in China SS and Hong Kong SS before the Russian Open... Won't they feel tired playing 3 straight tournaments?
Zhu Jingjing, Wang Lin and Wang Yihan, on the other hand, will go straight to Russia Open and skip Hong Kong SS... They might just do better than their tired Seniors...
Yeah, the drawing has released by BWF. This RUS Open doesn't attract many top-players like other previous GP Gold tourney where all tournaments located in Asia region (ABC-THA-PHI-TPE-Macau), the entries is rather similar with GP level tournament.
From WS drawing, Pi Hongyan has cancelled her trip to Moskwa so Xu Huaiwen replaced her position as top-seed.
Andre and Rian-Yoke are seeded #8.... Ok lah, not bad...