dark horses???

[olli]

Any suggestions???

MS: SHON Wan Ho

(he just discovered that he is capable to beat players like Lee Chong Wei
and he doesn't have any pressure to fulfill high expectations)

MD: HONG Wei & SHEN Ye

MX, WS, WD...?

[olli]

Sorry, just noticed that HONG Wei & SHEN Ye didn't qualify

[AlanY]

I suggest that all gold medals will go to the top 4 seeds in all 5 events, may be one at most will go to the 5-8th seeds group.
Therefore, as far as I concern dark horses should be the ones that outside the top 8.

Bearing that in mind, my choices of dark horses will be;

MS - Taufik Hidayat (INA)
WS - Cheng Shao Chieh (TPE)
MD - Naoki Kawamae / Shoji Sato (JPN) or whoever they send
XD - Chris Adcock / Imogen Bankier (GBR)

[Miqilin7]

I suggest that all gold medals will go to the top 4 seeds in all 5 events, may be one at most will go to the 5-8th seeds group.
Therefore, as far as I concern dark horses should be the ones that outside the top 8.

Bearing that in mind, my choices of dark horses will be;

MS - Taufik Hidayat (INA)
WS - Cheng Shao Chieh (TPE)
MD - Naoki Kawamae / Shoji Sato (JPN) or whoever they send
XD - Chris Adcock / Imogen Bankier (GBR)

I would disagree with the MD pair. They are quite toothless against many top pairs. They should be replaced by Isara/Jongjit. Bear in another MD can also potentially cause upset that is Tony Gunawan and Howard Bach. God knows how they are getting on with their preparation.

For MS, I will not put Taufik as a dark horse yet. Wait and check out his performance in Indonesian Open Premier. If there's no change or difference spotted in his performance, then Taufik will not really go far.

My pick for MS:

Kevin Cordon
Marc Zwiebler
Jan O Jorgensen


WS:
Caroline Marin
Eriko Hirose ( I hope Japan drops Sayako Sato instead because she is really useless)
Tai Tzu Ying
Ratchanok Intanon

WD:
None

XD:

Anybody can be a dark horse..

[SolsticeOfLight]

I have to say the British pair could do well. They won against the #1 twice, and with a home crowd backing them, there's no telling what they could be capable of.
That said, it's equally likely that they implode at the first hurdle

I can't say the Taufik will make an impression though. His performances lately (or longer ) seem lacklustre. I can't see him picking up his game enough to win the tournament.

[wilcan]

Sorry, just noticed that HONG Wei & SHEN Ye didn't qualify

this pair is the real dark horse
dark till we can not see them playing at LONDON hahahaha
peace

[SantaSCSI]

I think Carolina Marin is on the right track but I'm not quite sure whether she can surprise the Chinese invasion though. Aside from that, she may have a chance to surprise some others.

And just for hoots, giggles and patriotism: Lianne Tan :P

[demolidor]

I think Carolina Marin is on the right track but I'm not quite sure whether she can surprise the Chinese invasion though. Aside from that, she may have a chance to surprise some others.

And just for hoots, giggles and patriotism: Lianne Tan :P

Now that would be a surprise! Given that she shan't be participating ...

Anyhoo, group stages are by design less likely for a dark horse to come through but this year's Champions League has luckily proven surprises are still possible .

[SolsticeOfLight]

Considering Belgium's population's about the same as London, we can be pretty happy

[SantaSCSI]

@demolidor: Ah well, it was worth trying :P.

It's all about pressure. The dark horses/underdogs may well surprise some headliners since they have less of a burden to carry. Expectations do strange things to people.

[Miqilin7]

@demolidor: Ah well, it was worth trying :P.

It's all about pressure. The dark horses/underdogs may well surprise some headliners since they have less of a burden to carry. Expectations do strange things to people.

Wait and see Taufik's performance in Singapore and Indonesia before concluding he is a dark horse or not...if anyone can take him out easily, then he is just going to London to make up the numbers like how he screwed up in Wembley..

[demolidor]

Now that would be a surprise! Given that she shan't be participating ...

Anyhoo, group stages are by design less likely for a dark horse to come through but this year's Champions League has luckily proven surprises are still possible .

Considering Belgium's population's about the same as London, we can be pretty happy

@demolidor: Ah well, it was worth trying :P.

It's all about pressure. The dark horses/underdogs may well surprise some headliners since they have less of a burden to carry. Expectations do strange things to people.

Apparently the BOC has nominated her after all even though not reaching the qualifying standards as set up by themselves

[MelvIndonesia]

Hope FIRDASARI will be the dark horse

[gundamzaku]

I would disagree with the MD pair. They are quite toothless against many top pairs. They should be replaced by Isara/Jongjit. Bear in another MD can also potentially cause upset that is Tony Gunawan and Howard Bach. God knows how they are getting on with their preparation.

For MS, I will not put Taufik as a dark horse yet. Wait and check out his performance in Indonesian Open Premier. If there's no change or difference spotted in his performance, then Taufik will not really go far.

My pick for MS:

Kevin Cordon
Marc Zwiebler
Jan O Jorgensen


WS:
Caroline Marin
Eriko Hirose ( I hope Japan drops Sayako Sato instead because she is really useless)
Tai Tzu Ying
Ratchanok Intanon

WD:
None

XD:

Anybody can be a dark horse..

Tony and Howard? really?

[canti]

Tony and Howard? really?

they did do it in 05 for world champ

[gundamzaku]

they did do it in 05 for world champ

ok cool, i gotta go back and watch that then!!!

[repentedboy]

Dark Horses will cause upsets but they wont win the tournament.