Since it is now less than 13 hours until the Main Draw begins playing I am starting to get excited so am going to write a little preview on who I am looking forward to see etc.. Firstly the scoring system, which although rather old news now the last tournament I actually watched was AE 2006, which was the last tournament to use OSS. I have read a lot about what people think, and what I have watched from recorded matches, but it is always different experciencing it live. MS: I was looking forward to seeing WCH play again, as I always like his style, but unfortunately he came up against a clinical Simon Santoso in Qualifying-Who beat KBH 21-6 21-8 on of the most one sided scores I have seen in RPS. Without taufik obviously the quality of the draw is reduced, but he is only one player, and this gives hafiz a chance to play himself into the tournament he won in 2004. LCW Is also someone I am looking forward to see, since every year I have seen him improve, but recently he seems to have gone off the boil-or is he just saving himself for AE? Otherwise it just seems like it will be the same faces in the later stages. WS: Not much to look forward to here, except seeing Saina Nehwal play. Otherwise I fear XXF Vs Zhang Ning will be the final again, Hoping for ZN to win. MD: After the breakthrough of the younger MAS Pairs last year they never really continued that form, But KKK/TBH seem like they are breaking through now, although still inexperienced I will be watching their games. Kido/Setiwan are another pair I have not seen before. DEN seem not to be having much new talent breaking through in this discipline either. Of course TG/CW are always a pleasure to watch their efficient style, but it says much for the quality of MD at the moment that part-time players can still be highly ranked. WD: Not much to say here, other than Hope GL wins here seven in a row. YW/ZJW I feel are better, but I thought that last year. XD: This is a category wide open since the decline of ZJ/GL and retirement of KDM/Ra and the failure of any other pairs to take the lead. KOR pairs seem to be inconsistent, DEN pairs not bonding as pairs, and INA pair seem to have declined too. ENG pair will always be there or therabouts, but I am interested in seeing how Gao/Zheng fare, since Zheng seemed to me to be a one dimensional player in MD (similar to Zhang Jun) relying on his smash. GL is of course the best All round Womens player in the world (ever?) but even so, it is impressive that they can be seemingly so good in such a short time (at least in terms of tournaments played). Any how, looking forward to the games starting and hopefully meeting a few BC members too!
I'm hoping for... ...CJ to win in the MS ...ZN or ZL to win in WS ...Tony/Candra to in win MD ...GL/HS to win in WD ...ZB/GL to win in XD
For XD, I think ZB/GL should have no problem winning. I don't think they have ever lost since they teamed up. Actually I don't remember they ever lose any set. My pick: MS - PG WS - XXF MD - KKK/TBH WD - GL/HS XD - ZB/GL
again, i will be awfully shocked if CHN don't win 4 of the 5 events again. Only likely ones to trouble them appear to be PG and Nova/Liliyana.
Haha, do u guys forgot Korean pairs already ? My prediction: MS - LD WS - XXF MD - LYD/JJS WD - YW/ZJW XD - ZB/GL
Qidong: ZB/GL went to three ends in MAL open final against Robertson/Emms I didn't forget about KOR pair in MD, but last year when I watched them I commented that they had almost everything-Speed, Tactics, defence and technique, but only lacked the power to finish rallies when playing top pairs with good defences. From what I have seen from results only, I don't think this has changed...we will see though!
I think Emms/Robertson will fare well at home. They are my dark horses for the XD. Prediction: MS: LD WS: XXF MD: TG/SB WD: GL/HS XD: GL/ZB Dark horse/could surprise: MS: PG WS: ZL MD: KKK/TBH WD: none or any other Chinese pair XD: GE/NR Let the games begin
I can still remember how Nathan Robertson/Gail Emms so nearly nicked the title last year after so many match points in the second set....only to lose it to Zhang Jun/Gao Ling Nathan clearly lost interest in the third set and yielded the title to the Chinese pair. I think the English pair has a good chance of reaching the Final.
The favorites for MS has to be Lin Dan. Peter Gade and Lee Chong Wei have an outside chance. As for MD, lots of potential winners. It will be tough for Markis Kido/Hendra Setiawan right from the very start, facing Lars Paaske/Jonas Rasmussen...but...if they can have the right mentality...they have a chance. Koo Kien Keat/Tan Boon Heong is obviously another candidate for the title...but they have to possibly beat several Indonesian pairs consecutively. Fu Haifeng/Cai Yun have been waning since their World Championship victory..but..they remain to be one of the solid pairs. Jung Jae Sung/Lee Yong Dae is another pair in reckoning...but...they are also still inconsistent at the moment. So, the MD title is up for grabs...
My opinion: Either KKK/TBH: They are very, very fast and powerful. or TG/CW : No need to elaborate...
i'll say.... MS: LD, PG, LCW MD: KKK/TBH, TG/CW WS: XXF, ZN(i hope she wins) WD: GL/HS (no others) XD: GL/ZB (same case as WD except ENG pair can stop them which is unlikely)
MS -- Good step for Simon so far, wish him luck to beat another MAS Lee TS. I see 6 Malaysian shuttlers in MS main draw, seems they are very ambitious to grab the title although hot-faves still go to the Chinese (LD w/ his mates CJ or BCL). Probably, Roslin can make surprising today when he meet the #1?! Huge task after he defeated by LD last week in Germany. LCW and PG as usual best hopes (without TH attendance) to shock CHN-4, will their mission accomplished? MD -- the hardest division to predict and most exciting to watch because no one superior here. Overall, CHN has positive sign to repeat what they have reached last year.
overall in MS, i would say tat the only threat seriously is CHINA.... only LCW and PGC can stop them (TH if he is in AE this time..haih....).... MD, i would say its either KKK/TBH, MK/HS, TG/CW or JJS/LYD.... wad do u think??
my predictions: MS: LD (challengers - PG, LCW, CJ) WS: XXF (challenger - ZN) WD: GL/HS (challengers - CHN) XD: ZB/GL (challenger - GE/NR) MD: not FHF/CY. tough one this. i like TG/CW (challengers LYD/JJS, KKK/TBH)