China’s withdraws, rest of the world to shine in the India Open Super Series 2011 - Preview
China, which is one of the leading countries in the world of badminton, has decided to withdraw their participation from the first edition of the India Open Super Series 2011 to be held in India from April 26 to May 1.
The Chinese shuttlers are busy in the Badminton Asia Championships at the moment and after that their focus will be the Sudirman Cup, a mixed team event which is going to be held in the upcoming month of May. The absence of the Chinese shuttlers has spared
an opportunity for the rest of the world to win the title of the India Open.
In the category of Women’s Singles, India’s Saina Nehwal is the Number 1 seed in this home event. Saina is currently World Number 4. The absence of top Chinese shuttlers including Wang Shixian and Wang Yihan, World Number 1 and 2 respectively, has provided
a superb chance for the Indian to win the title. Saina’s coach, Pullela Gopichand, is quite optimistic for her success in the championship.
In the Men’s Singles category, the World Number 1 Malaysian shuttler, Lee Chong Wei is placed at the top of the draw. Chong Wei is the favourite to win the title as his nemesis and World Number 2, Lin Dan of China is not participating in this event.
Apart from the top seed of Malaysia, there are also some other claimers of the title including Taufik Hidayat of Indonesia, Peter Hoeg Gade of Denmark and Boonsak Ponsana of Thailand. Gade expressed his preparation for the India Open by saying that he is
working hard in training sessions to improve some new tactics of the game and his target is high for the upcoming event.
In the absence of Chinese top pairs in Women’s Doubles category, Jwala Gutta – Ashwini Ponappa of India, Yao Lei – Sari Shinta Mulia of Singapore, Kunchala Voravichitchaikul – Duanganong Aroonkesorn of Thailand and the Japanese pairs of Reika Kakiiwa – Mizuki
Fujii and Mami Naito – Hizuka Matsuo will be the major contenders for the Women’s Doubles title in the event.
In the Men’s Doubles category, the top seeds from China and Denmark are skipping this event that has spared an opportunity for other players to win the title. Among the major claimers of the Men’s Doubles title are, Tan Boon Heong – Koo Kien Keat of Malaysia,
Hendra Aprida Gunawan – Alvento Yulianto Chandra of Indonesia and Kim Sa Rang – Kim Ki Jung of Korea.
In the Mixed Doubles category, the winners of Australian Open GP Gold, Kunchala Voravichitchaikul – Songphon Anugritayawon of Thailand and Saralee Thoungthongkam – Sudket Prapakamol of Thailand, Mizuki Fujii – Hirokatsu Hashimoto of Japan, Diju Valiyaeveetil
– Jwala Gutta of India and Liliyana Natsir – Tantowi Ahmad of Indonesia will be the chief contenders for the crown in India.
However, the absence of China is a shock for the local badminton lovers who were expecting a great show to watch the leading shuttlers playing in front of them. At the same time, it is also a healthy sign for many top shuttlers who have now become major
contenders for the title in all categories of the championship. This will also be the first Super Series event of the qualifying round for the 2012 London Olympics.
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