Saturday, 21 Dec 2024

BWF News

Indonesia’s Tontowi Ahmad/Lilyana Natsir and Denmark’s Joachim Fischer Nielsen/Christinna Pedersen have their sights set on challenging China at the CR Land BWF World Superseries Finals. If either of these Mixed Doubles teams manages to clinch the title, it will help ease the disappointment they experienced at the Olympics. In the semifinals, the Indonesians faced Xu Chen/Ma Jin, while the Danes battled Zhang Nan/Zhao Yunlei on adjacent courts. While China initially struggled in the opening games of both matches, they fought back and ultimately made it to the gold-medal match.

Ahmad/Natsir, who have established a strong partnership since Natsir’s former partner Nova Widianto retired, had a remarkable run in early 2012, winning 19 consecutive matches and claiming victory at prestigious tournaments like the All England, Swiss Open, and India Open. Their performance at the Olympics seemed to indicate that they were in peak form. However, Xu Chen and Ma Jin elevated their game, and the Indonesians faltered in the third game. Despite their loss in the bronze medal playoff, Ahmad/Natsir can take pride in their achievements, having won five titles and securing the No. 2 world ranking.

Fischer Nielsen/Pedersen, on the other hand, may still be nursing the disappointment of their narrow Olympic semifinal loss, but they did manage to come away with the bronze medal. They had a positive record against Zhang Nan/Zhao Yunlei going into the Olympics, winning four out of the six encounters. However, on semifinals day, the Chinese pair held their ground under pressure. Winning the Olympic bronze was the highlight of the year for Fischer Nielsen/Pedersen, who did not come close to winning any other major titles.

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The dominant teams throughout the year were undoubtedly Zhang Nan/Zhao Yunlei (ranked No. 4) and Xu Chen/Ma Jin (ranked No. 1). Despite their exceptional performance in 2012, winning five Superseries titles (including four consecutive ones), Xu Chen/Ma Jin struggled against their compatriots, losing all four encounters in finals matches and trailing with a head-to-head record of 2-10. Zhang Nan/Zhao Yunlei, on the other hand, had a flawless year, winning four major titles, including the Olympics.

Sudket Prapakamol/Saralee Thoungthongkam from Thailand had their fair share of shining moments. Despite being over 30 years old and Prapakamol losing some power in his smashes, they have managed to stay in the elite levels of badminton with their crafty style of play. They had a significant victory at the Indonesia Open, defeating local favorites Ahmad/Natsir and top seeds Zhang Nan/Zhao Yunlei in the quarterfinals.

Malaysia’s Chan Peng Soon/Goh Liu Ying have shown impressive progress recently. Their hard work paid off with two titles – the Malaysia Open GPG and the Japan Open Superseries. They have proven to be a challenging team for the top contenders and are definitely ones to watch out for in the coming year.

Yoo Yeon Seong and Jang Ye Na from Korea were unable to secure a major title this season. Yoo has also enjoyed a successful partnership with Shin Baek Choel in Men’s Doubles. Yoo delighted fans at the Denmark Open when he broke into a spontaneous “Gangnam Style” dance after winning the title. If Yoo and Jang can surprise their opponents in Shenzhen, we might witness more of their exuberance.

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The final team to qualify for the World Superseries Finals was Muhammad Rijal/Debby Susanto from Indonesia. They benefited from the retirement of Japanese star Reiko Shiota. Rijal/Susanto had a consistent year, with a victory at the Chinese Taipei Open and reaching the finals at the Indonesia Open GPG and Macau Open GPG. They will also be aiming to make an impression at the year-end tournament.


FAQs

Q: Can Indonesia’s Tontowi Ahmad/Lilyana Natsir and Denmark’s Joachim Fischer Nielsen/Christinna Pedersen challenge China at the CR Land BWF World Superseries Finals?
A: Yes, they hope to spoil China’s party at the World Superseries Finals.

Q: What are the achievements of Indonesia’s Tontowi Ahmad/Lilyana Natsir and Denmark’s Joachim Fischer Nielsen/Christinna Pedersen?
A: Ahmad/Natsir had a sensational run in early 2012, winning multiple titles and securing the No. 2 world ranking. Fischer Nielsen/Pedersen won the Olympic bronze medal.

Q: Who were the dominant teams in the Badminton World Federation (BWF) this year?
A: The dominant teams were Zhang Nan/Zhao Yunlei and Xu Chen/Ma Jin.

Q: Which teams may surprise at the World Superseries Finals?
A: Teams like Sudket Prapakamol/Saralee Thoungthongkam, Chan Peng Soon/Goh Liu Ying, and Yoo Yeon Seong/Jang Ye Na could spring some surprises.

Summary

Indonesia’s Tontowi Ahmad/Lilyana Natsir and Denmark’s Joachim Fischer Nielsen/Christinna Pedersen are determined to challenge China’s dominance at the CR Land BWF World Superseries Finals. These mixed doubles teams aim to redeem themselves after their disappointments at the Olympics. Zhang Nan/Zhao Yunlei and Xu Chen/Ma Jin have been the teams to beat this year, but other pairs like Sudket Prapakamol/Saralee Thoungthongkam, Chan Peng Soon/Goh Liu Ying, and Yoo Yeon Seong/Jang Ye Na have shown great potential. The World Superseries Finals promise to be an exciting event as these top players compete for the ultimate title.

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