Saturday, 21 Dec 2024

BWF News

Veterans Boonsak Ponsana and Juliane Schenk make a triumphant return to the Li Ning Singapore Open, the stage of their greatest victory. Despite their extensive professional careers, Ponsana and Schenk have only secured one Superseries title, the Singapore Open. However, both are optimistic about their chances of retaining their titles. Schenk, who recently finished as a runner-up in the Djarum Indonesia Open, is in great form.

Ponsana, on the other hand, has been fortunate with some high-profile withdrawals, including World Champion Lin Dan and No. 1 Lee Chong Wei. With Lee absent, the top seed is Du Pengyu, who has been performing well in recent times. However, Du’s compatriots Chen Yuekun and Wang Zhengming are also strong contenders. The tournament also boasts a strong Indian presence, with players like P. Kashyap, K. Srikanth, Sai Praneeth, Guru Sai Dutt, Sourabh Verma, Anand Pawar, and Ajay Jayaram, all capable of causing upsets.

Marc Zwiebler, who faced Lee Chong Wei in the final of the Indonesia Open, has a difficult draw ahead. He begins his campaign against the dangerous Chen Yuekun and might face top seed Du Pengyu if he progresses. The Men’s Singles draw includes qualifiers like Lee Dong Keun, Sai Praneeth, Zulfadli Zulkiffli, and Ng Ka Long.

In the Women’s Singles, Li Xuerui from China is the favorite. However, there are several impressive stars in the competition, including India’s Saina Nehwal, who has been without a major title for some time and is eager to change that. Nehwal’s first round opponent will be Singapore’s Gu Juan, who caused an upset by defeating Nehwal in the quarter-finals of the Thailand Open GP Gold.

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Fans will also be closely watching Hong Kong’s Yip Pui Yin, who had a remarkable performance in the Indonesia Open, defeating players like Wang Yihan and Minatsu Mitani. The Women’s Singles draw includes qualifiers Thulasi PC and Arundhati Pantawane from India, Yu Sun from China, and Xing Aiying from Singapore.

HIGHLIGHTS:

  • The Men’s Doubles draw features strong teams such as Indonesia Open champions Mohd Ahsan/Hendra Setiawan, Korea’s Lee Yong Dae/Ko Sung Hyun, and China’s Cai Yun/Fu Haifeng. Qualifiers include two pairs from Hong Kong, Chan Yun Lung/Lee Chun Hei and Chan Tsz Kit/Lo Lok Kei.

  • China is expected to dominate the Women’s Doubles as usual, with pairs like Tian Qing/Zhao Yunlei, Ma Jin/Tan Jinhua, and Bao Yixin/Cheng Shu. However, Japan’s Reika Kakiiwa, who reunited with Miyuki Maeda last week, could be a strong contender. The pair has qualified for the main draw.

  • Two Singapore pairs, Terry Hee/Fu Mingtian and Tan Zi Jian/Yuliana Dellis, have qualified in the Mixed Doubles. They will face tough competition from Olympic champions Zhang Nan/Zhao Yunlei from China and Tontowi Ahmad/Liliyana Natsir from Indonesia.

For more information, be sure to visit the Carnegiecentre website.

FAQs

  1. What is the Li Ning Singapore Open?
    The Li Ning Singapore Open is a prestigious badminton tournament that sees the participation of top players from around the world.

  2. Who are the defending champions for the Men’s and Women’s Singles?
    The defending champions for the Men’s Singles and Women’s Singles are Boonsak Ponsana from Thailand and Juliane Schenk from Germany, respectively.

  3. Who are the top contenders in the tournament?
    Some top contenders in the tournament include Du Pengyu from China, Saina Nehwal from India, and Li Xuerui from China.

  4. Are there any notable absentees from the tournament?
    Yes, World Champion Lin Dan from China and No. 1 Lee Chong Wei from Malaysia are notable absentees from the tournament.

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Conclusion

The Li Ning Singapore Open promises to be an exciting tournament, with veterans like Boonsak Ponsana and Juliane Schenk vying to retain their titles. With a strong field of players and some high-profile absentees, the competition is wide open for new champions to emerge. Stay tuned to the Carnegiecentre website for the latest updates on the tournament.