Also ironic since they are one of only 2 pairs so far to win 2 SS titles this year. Skipping India cost them dear... I think the question is do they really want it? They lack the drive and motivation nowadays, an extended post-Olympic blues of what do they do til 2020, with an added challenge of it also being more competitive in their own team, as Steen mentioned in their China Open match. They'll need the drive as theirs is the toughest draw out there with CYN/JKE in R1, DY/LYH or Polii/Rahayu in R2, HYQ/YXH in QF then Tanaka/Yonemoto in SF compared to a very easy draw for Fukushima and Hirota til SF.
Very good first round in MS. To note: CL-LHI Jojo-Wang Tzu wei Wong Vincent-Ginting Vittinghus - Shi YQ Tian HW-LCW Sai P-SWH
I have to say I find this 2-per-country rule completely retarded for this competition. World Championships and Olympics I understand, should in a way represent the different federations. This, however, should be the best players of the year, regardless of origin. If I'm not entirely mistaken, there'll be women's doubles at the season finale that have amassed only half the points of someone who has to stay home - what the actual f...?
i was under the impression the ssf was to reward excellence & consistency in ss/p tournaments. yet another blunder by bwf executives.
Is Huang Yaqiong/ZSiWei going to be a permanent XD pair? Dora is no longer playing XD? what about LuKai? He is in MD only?
yeah Portnip is back in action again in qualifier after missing in badminton for so long... congrats and good luck!
The Indian Embassy in Hong Kong is assisting Kasahyap and Praneeth to resolve the issue. Was expected to be resolved yesterday.
XD-R32 Highlights : https://www.tournamentsoftware.com/...3A18B4-508C-473A-BB77-ABC795C6D7D5&d=20171121(starting at 7.00 p.m local time) • Chris Adcock/Gabrielle Adcock vs Mathias Christiansen/Christinna Pedersen • Zhang Nan/Liu Xuanxuan vs Tan Kian Meng/Lai Pei Jing • Yugo Kobayashi/Misaki Matsutomo vs Wang Yilyu/Huang Dongping • Kim Won Ho/Shin Seung Chan vs Lee Chun Hei Reginald/Chau Hoi Wah • Dechapol Puavaranukroh/Puttita Supajirakul vs Zheng Siwei/Huang Yaqiong
From this perspective, that is true that the purpose to have the best players is not achieved. But I think we have to think a bit bigger here. I don't think it is particularly a mistake by bwf as mentioned by @samkool . What I see, is that BWF try to put SSF as the 'showcase' of badminton to the world on how fun it can be with these elite players playing, a way to promote the sport. The problem with too many reps from 1 nation, kills the interest thus they put the limitation. And I think it has worked well; I mean, imagine all 3 pairs from Japan goes to SF, it would be a bit not fun, or when 3 Wangs dominate WS and the generation of Yu Yang/Wang Xiaoli 5 years ago. It will not serve the purpose to promote the game. Furthermore, it also to prevent another scenario like in London when there are more than 2 players from the same country play. There is a rule about the scheduling of their match which actually put down to solve this issue, but I forgot what it is. Like 2 reps must play at the same time at the last group match or so.
this guy kantaphon wangcharoen is the one who beat MAS promising player Lee Zii Jia in this early year, too bad Lee Zii Jia no take part this tournament while kantaphon wangcharoen have his chance to play this big tournament...
ye i know who kantaphon is ... just weird i expected wei nan would demolish him in home ground. looks like gonna a tight 3-setters
