English shuttlers face challenging draw in the 2011 World Badminton Championships – Badminton News
English shuttlers were unfortunate as most of them have found a tough draw as they are set to meet top shuttlers as early as in the first or second rounds of the 2011 World Championships, which will take place in London from August 8-14.
From all categories of the game, England has a chance to win the title in the event of Mixed Doubles, as their most experience player and 2006 World Champion, Nathan Robertson with her young partner, Jenny Wallwork are determined to win glory in this mega
event.
World Number Ten spot holders, Robertson and Wallwork, are set to play against the spirited pair of Chan Peng Soon and Goh Liu Ying of Malaysia, in the second round of the Mixed Doubles. The English couple have met the Malaysian duo on two occasions and
both sides have won one game each.
If Robertson and Wallwork pass the first hurdle, they will most probably face the experienced couple of Saralee Thoungthongkam and Sudket Prapakamol of Thailand, who are seeded at number three in the Mixed Doubles draw of the mega event.
The English duo will then play Indonesia’s Pia Zebadiah Bernadet and Fran Kurniawan in the third round of the championships. The draw will become tougher for the English couple as the event proceeds.
Coming to Men’s Singles category, England’s top seed and World Number 27, Rajiv Ouseph has found the toughest opening-round fight as he is set to play against Denmark’s Peter Hoeg Gade, who is World Number Three and also the third seed in the event.
Ouseph has played six times against the Danish shuttler and has not been able to beat him even once in their matches, as Gade was victorious without facing any trouble on all occasions. Keeping the past record in mind, it will be quite challenging for Ouseph
to break the deadlock in the Men’s Singles first round of the mega event.
In all other categories also, English players are set to face seeded opponents in the first or second round of the World Championships. With the current draws in hand, English shuttlers will have to play really well if they want to send a strong message
to other leading badminton nations in the world.
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