2015 VIVO BWF Sudirman Cup Group Stage Daily updates

Venue : Dongfeng Nissan Sports Center, Dongguan-Guangdong Province, CHN

Official website : http://en.dongguansudirman2015.com/

Tournamentsoftware link : http://www.tournamentsoftware.com/sp…F-52B49FBE4586

Complete Schedule : http://www.bwfbadminton.org/file.aspx?id=628007&dl=1

CHN time : http://www.worldtimezone.com/time/wt…ma=Find%20Time

Knock-out stage draw date : 13th May 2015

2013 SUDIRMAN Cup Final Result => http://bwf.tournamentsoftware.com/sp…03934&match=37
CHN v KOR : 3-0
Gold (winner) : CHN
Silver (runner-up) : KOR
Bronze (losing semifinalists) : DEN & THA

May has arrived and it’s time for the BWF team event. This year we have the Sudirman Cup which takes place in Dongguan, a fast developing city in southern China. This is the 4th time for badminton giant China to host world mixed team championships after 2005 (Beijing), 2009 (Guangzhou) and 2011 (Qingdao).

The 14th edition of Sudirman Cup will see the top 12 ranked nations divided into four subgroups with three participating countries for each subgroup. Who will lift the trophy on Sunday’s grand final?

Host China really dominates this event to top podium nine times (1995, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013) followed by Korea (1991, 1993, 2003) and Indonesia (1989). Title holder and long time favourite in team event, China is predicted will extend their supremacy with their powerful squad here, Lin Dan, Chen Long, Li Xuerui, Wang Yihan, Fu Haifeng, Cai Yun, Zhang Nan, Zhao Yunlei, Wang Xiaoli, Yu Yang, who can deny the formidable Chinese team for their 10th title quest? Their only relative weak link is the Men’s Doubles.

Three time champions Korea is the most potential rival that could shake China’s dominance. They did so previously in various team events: Sudirman Cup 2003, Uber Cup 2010 and last year’s Incheon AG Men’s team event. Lee Yong Dae/Yoo Yeon Seong will lead Korean team along with Son Wan Ho, Sung Ji Hyun, Ko Sung Hyun, Shin Baek Cheol, Kim Ha Na, Chang Ye Na. Korea is known to produce good scratch pairs that keep their opponent guessing the line-up.

Another strong contender is Japan. We witnessed them produce and extraordinary achievement in Thomas Cup last year. In Sudirman Cup 2015 they bring some young bloods, Kento Momota, Nozomi Okuhara, Akane Yamaguchi combined with established double specialists Hiroyuki Endo, Kenichi Hayakawa, Misaki Matsutomo, Ayaka Takahashi who often trouble Chinese shuttlers at individual tournaments. Japan has a bright opportunity to claim their best ever finish in this Sudirman Cup as they never reached semifinal round in previous editions.

Other contestants, first edition winner Indonesia has not enough power in singles category but they have reliable men’s doubles and mixed doubles. European powerhouse Denmark miss their leading players in doubles category, Boe/Mogensen, Fischer/Pedersen and Kamilla Rytter Juhl due to sponsorship conflicts. This unfortunate set of circumstances will dampen their chances to do well here.

Thailand, India, Malaysia, Taipei may spring some surprises with their respective badminton stars, Ratchanok Intanon, Saina Nehwal, Srikanth Kidambi, Chou Tien Chen, Tai Tzu Ying and last but not least former world #1, Lee Chong Wei who returns to play per May 1, 2015.