Venue : Barclaycard Arena, Birmingham-ENG Total prize-money : US$500,000 Tournament website : http://www.allenglandbadminton.com/ Tournament time-table : http://www.allenglandbadminton.com/the-championships/tournament-schedule-2015/ tournamentsoftware link : https://www.tournamentsoftware.com/sport/tournament.aspx?id=359F5D4F-9DEC-4974-A40E-9009DEE332F8 Birmingham time : http://www.worldtimezone.com/time/wtzresult.php?CiID=4872&forma=Find Time 2014 WINNERS => http://bwf.tournamentsoftware.com/s...A247C0-51DE-4A7E-A3A6-EED7607702D3&d=20140309 MS - Lee Chong Wei (MAS) WS - Wang Shixian (CHN) MD - Mohammad Ahsan/Hendra Setiawan (INA) WD - Wang Xiaoli/Yu Yang (CHN) XD - Tontowi Ahmad/Liliyana Natsir (INA) 105th edition of the oldest and prestigious All England as usual is full of starry cast who will be ready to entertain badminton enthusiasts in 6 days ahead. It would be perfect scenario if defending champion Lee Chong Wei could participate here as his archrival and the best MS in current era, Lin Dan is back after missed 2013 and 2014 edition. The striking new look Barclaycard Arena that face lifted of National Indoor Arena presents different atmosphere for spectators and players with modernized architecture including LCD wonderwall. All England always spread its charm as every shuttler wants eagerly to lift the trophy, creating stiff competition at very first round. MS, Lin Dan is top contender for this year championships along with his younger compatriot, current world #1 and world champion Chen Long who will challenge the maestro to deny his 6th All England title. Another names on the fray and considered will push Chinese duo out of their comfort zone, European Champion Jan O Jorgensen, Son Wan Ho and Chou Tien Chen also Indian rising star Srikanth Kidambi as well. Don't leave Japanese player, Kenichi Tago (2010's runner up), aggressive Kento Momota plus veteran Sho Sasaki. In last decade, China showed their prowess through Lin Dan (2004, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012), Chen Hong (2005), Chen Jin (2008) and Chen Long (2013). Only Lee Chong Wei could break their powerful record, bested in 2010, 2011 and 2014. WS, the mighty Chinese trio of Li Xuerui, Wang Shixian and Wang Yihan had been shook by emerging talents lately. Carolina Marin, Akane Yamaguchi, Tai Tzu Ying, Nozomi Okuhara plus Saina Nehwal and Korean leading players of Sung Ji Hyun and Bae Yeon Ju potentially may bury China dream to maintain their triumphant here. Since 1997, China fantastic reputation in this category only rejected by Danish ladies, Camilla Martin (2002) and Tine Rasmussen (2008, 2010, 2013). MD, two favourite combos Lee Yong Dae/Yoo Yeon Seong and Mohammad Ahsan/Hendra Setiawan displayed superb performance along 2014 season and we'll see their action to start new Superseries circuit at Barclaycard Arena. None dominant pair in last 10 years proves degree of competitiveness for this discipline, it's open wide for any of top 10 MD to taste victory on Sunday finale. WD, slimmest chance for other participants to topple China hegemony. Korean Lee Hyo Jung/Lee Kyung Won became last WD pair to steal title from China in 2008. 2014 Dubai SS Finals Matsutomo/Takahashi, 2014 Incheon AG gold medalist Maheswari/Polii and world #4 Pedersen/Juhl will try their best to stop CHN supremacy here. XD, Tontowi Ahmad/Liliyana Natsir topped podium in three consecutive years since 2012 and they will eye 4th title, a XD record in modern era. China multiple winners Zhang/Zhao, Xu/Ma, European finest Fischer/Pedersen are their classic foes and local hero Chris and Gabby Adcock who will be home best opportunity to reclaim England glory as Nathan Robertson/Gail Emms did it in 2005 edition. QUALIFICATION (12.00pm local time, 5 courts) => https://www.tournamentsoftware.com/...9F5D4F-9DEC-4974-A40E-9009DEE332F8&d=20150303 GER Open GPG runner-up, Dionysius Hayom Rumbaka and Simon Santoso whose WR dropped significantly will hunt main draw ticket. Kim Hyo Min, Yui Hashimoto, Bellaetrix Manuputty are expected to pass WS qualifying round.
ROUND OF 32 (10.00am local time, 5 courts) : https://www.tournamentsoftware.com/sport/matches.aspx?id=359F5D4F-9DEC-4974-A40E-9009DEE332F8 Some seeded players/pairs have tough and tricky first round : - Chou Tien Chen v Parupalli Kashyap (IND) - Srikanth Kidambi (IND) v Kento Momota (JPN) - Rajiv Ouseph (ENG) v Son Wan Ho (KOR) - Ratchanok Intanon (THA) v Akane Yamaguchi (JPN) - Wang Yihan v Nozomi Okuhara (JPN) - Lee YD/Yoo YS (KOR) v Conrad/Kolding (DEN) - Ivanov/Sozonov (RUS) v Boe/Mogensen (DEN) - Kakiiwa/Maeda (JPN) v Hoo/Woon KW (MAS) - Tang JH/Zhong QX (CHN) v Matsutomo/Takahashi (JPN) - Xu C/Ma J (CHN) v Jordan/Susanto (INA) - Kido/Bernadeth (INA) v Adcock/Adcock (ENG) Both CHN and INA have secured R/16 ticket in MS, top seed Chen Long will take on his younger teammate Xue Song also qualifier Hayom Rumbaka against Tommy Sugiarto.
Indeed, it's too bad Lee CW missed this event. Three Badminton legends with Gillian Clark and YONEX President Ben Yoneyama, all in black suits.
I see TH has put on some extra weight here.. Its really too bad LCW couldn't be int his event, I would like to see him dressed as a man in black but LD had my vote here as the best looking man in black!
Bao YX partnering with Tang YT..... it should be interesting.. Last year, Ma J/Tang YT vs WYL/YY was unforgettable!!
As always INA MS and WS are not going very far, INA MS Rumbaka won yesterday's match vs. Simon and now Rumbaka has to face Tommy Sugiarto. Meanwhile, Bella is facing Saina and Linda vs. Porntip Will there be upset galore today like: WYH vs. Nozomi Okuhara? Wong Wing Ki vs. Victor Axelsen? Chou Tien Chen vs. Kashyap Parupalli?
Unlucky Xue Song, ditto Hayom and Tommy. Similarly, this is not the first time Intanon has to face Akane in R1, iirc. Some other tough, exciting R1 matchups to light up the fireworks, Wang Yihan vs Nozomi Okuhara, K Srikanth vs K Momota, Chou T C vs P Kashyap, and perhaps Li Xuerui vs Zhang Beiwen only because the former starts the tournament a bit raw after a long injury layoff. Lin Dan vs Wei Nan should give us an idea what shape and form Lin Dan is in coming here after his recent knee injury problem, the most severe in his career to date as he himself claimed, which reportedly affected his just-concluded systematic training. That partly explains why he is setting himself a 'modest' target of getting into the world's top 3 instead of regaining the world number one spot by the end of the year as originally hinted. With LXR presumably not fully match fit as Li Yongbo indicated (he's not one to mince his words but say it like it is as befitting his hardheaded, pragmatic, realist character), the WS field is for the time being thrown wide open. Apart from the usual CHN suspects WYH and WSX, the other serious contenders for top honours should include Sung JH, Saina, Tai TY, Nozomi, Intanon, Akane, Kim Hyo Min, and possibly Marin and Bae YJ. As such, I'm looking forward to LXR's opening match with Zhang Beiwen who may prove to be a tricky proposition to catch the former unawares. In MS, Lin Dan and Chen Long are slated to clash in the semifinals in the top half of the draw that happened to be relatively more heavily populated by several highly-fancied contenders and promising up-and-comers such as Chou TC, K Srikanth , K Momota, Lee DK, Tanongsak and the seasoned P Kashyap, including perhaps Tian HW and Wang ZM - as compared with the bottom half led by JOJ, Son WH, Rumbaka, HKV, Wong WK, Hu Yun, Axelsen, etc. However, with Lin Dan reportedly not in peak condition as LYB also revealed, I won't be surprised to see Chen Long prevail over him this time should they come up against each other, barring any upsets along the way by one of the wannabes aforementioned.
LD's focus is keeping himself injury free and peaking at the upcoming Olympic, if LD really wants to win this All England, he will. We will see how far LD stretching himself the next few days. Same can be said regarding LXR. Other than CL, there is quite a few players capable of winning this All England. If the Chinese WS players falter, TTY and SJH have the best chance with the edge goes to TTY.
"It is amazing to win the title here because we professional players have always regarded All England Open as a mini-World Championship," said the two-time Olympic and five-time World Champion, reports Xinhua. "I have played here 12 times and won five titles. The history is very special. It is my personal goal to win a sixth title and I will try to play my best at every match." This is what lindan told. He is determined to win this title for 6th time. He sets this as his personal goal.. But fans thinking otherwise..
WD top-seed, Tian Qing/Zhao Yunlei is troubled by KOR former World Junior Champ, Lee SH/Shin SC who pushed the Olympic Champion into rubber-set. Today's first upset, XD 8th seed Widianto/Dili was sent packing early by JPN pair Hayakawa/Matsutomo.
MD, 7th seed Chai Biao/Hong Wei got first round exit, lost to Indian pair Attri/Reddy, 21-9 / 17-21 and 17-21. Another seeded pair from CHN, Xu/Ma is struggling at game 2, 8-13...
