Looking weak, and yet the European/World/Olympic Champion and current World Number 1 didn't even make the final. Good times!
Well done to Yamaguchi! Hopefully this will be the breakthrough victory she needs to give her confidence at the majors!
And wow, is this the first Super Series the Malaysians have ever won? In fact, the first non-LCW Super Series Malaysia has won in like 5+ years? Reaching the Olympics final probably gave them supreme confidence that they can handle any situation.
well, if it is true (and why not) she started with stomach flu in this tournament, it is quite remarkable she made the SF and fighted the way she did. It was obvious she wasn't at her best! Congrats to AY. Still I find her style not attractive. She is an amazing runner and retriever, but compared to others (imo) it is quite boring to watch, rarly something special happens. Simular to WSX but Wang had more deception, but maybe I have to see more matches of AY.
Well.. That kind of consistency is so difficult to maintain! Winning a premier superseries with 5"2 height is special!
Maiden Superseries title for both Tanongsak and Rio silver medalist Goh/Tan. All the way smashes by Tanongsak who flattened Son Wan Ho, the Korean did good job to make comeback at mid second game but it wasn't enough to stop left-handed Thai player to celebrate his big winning here. Later on, Isara/Phuangphuapet almost delivered second title for Thailand after nailed first game convincingly but lost narrowly to well-improved Malaysian combination in thrilling next two games. Danish hopeful Fischer/Pedersen demonstrated their vast experience to tame China young sensations Zheng/Chen to save 2 game points and took four consecutive points, 22-20. Nil title for badminton powerhouse China, first time in Superseries tournament since its inception, 2007. Japan bagged two titles in women's category through their aces Matsutomo/Takahashi and the in-form Akane Yamaguchi who showed her determination and resilience against the inconsistent Tai Tzu Ying.
Yes, I was going to mention this, but wasn't sure. Not only that, but China was only represented in one discipline (and one pair) in the final. What's happening to China? ROW catching up, or China slipping?
Goh and Lim won their first superseries tournament at the 2014 Malaysia Open after defeating China's Chai Biao/Hong Wei in the final.
1st Super Series Title for Goh V Shim and Tan Wee Keong. Previously Goh win 2014 M'sia Super Series with Lim Kim Wah.
A combined factor, ROW raise their standard while China golden era is ended with most of their core players conceded retirement, the most significant declining obviously is described in women's category. It's little bit too late to give exposure for their youngsters plus bad fortune happened at Rio as Li XR suffered terrible injury and two Wangs called quit, leaving Sun Yu and the less-experienced He Bingjiao to carry the heavyweight burden to face strings of high profile foreign rivals Carolina Marin, Ratchanok Intanon, Japanese starlets Okuhara & Yamaguchi, P.V. Sindhu, Tai Tzu Ying. More disaster for WD category, China squad seems toothless, the vurnerable Luo twin sisters always have nightmare against world's elites Matsutomo/Takahashi, Pedersen/Juhl, Jung KE/Shin SC, Maheswari/Polii even they lost to Thailand pair here.
