Japan was a seed but not the strongest team. Clearly, Indonesia and Denmark now aim to the cup. Japan even can lose to Taiwan now, so let send Tsuneyama and Nishimoto play. Saving Momota for Denmark and French Open. Don't turn Momota to a CARGO CAMEL
If Momota cannot do mental training. Momota should go through some grueling scientific training (grueling relative to the current kind of training they do at this level) for this physique and attack power. Then he can play and let his body move on his own. Pure muscle memory stuff where his mind can switch off. He needs to have this lightbulb moment when you think you cannot do something or cannot reach a smash but you did it anyway. That's when you know your body is ready but not your mind. And then you start to be able to do that very thing you though you couldn't do.
In 1976 Malaysia send a group of young and untested under achievers . They beat a Denmark team full of All England Champions and Future world champion. Sven Pri warned his teammate not to underestimate the Malaysian youngsters . They have history on their side. It happened again in 1988 When Malaysia beat Indonesia in the semis which was a mixed of young and old.
I think its going to be hard for Msians girls in Uber Cup. Just coming out of a grueling Sudirman cup. Dont think M Thinaah and Pearly have the physical strength to go all out next week so close.
Dont think MAS team is young. They are in the process of regenerations anyway. A lot will depends on LZJ and ChiaSoh to get the first 2 points but are they young? To me they are the best Malaysia have. their youngest MAS MD isnt younger than the youngest INA pair and still relying on DL. It will be nice if there is data for the average age squad for teams.
Denmark are looking like the hot favorites in the Thomas Cup. I don't see anyone coming close to their MS line up and their MD lineup is respectably strong as well.
So sad to think that before Covid pandemic INA is the hot favorite for Thomas Cup. Now everything has changed, Minions looks dispirited and unmotivated; Ginting and Christie looks underwhelming and unconvincing as well.
True, thats life, you cant achieve higher though so it can only go down (by outside circumstances like Covid). Not just Minions but most of the people in the world affected. Most badminton players are more affected than Minions because they dont have sponsorship income, etc.
Yeah I have even bought my plane ticket to Aarhus back then. But I have no interest to watch them live anymore now after Olympics
Ginting at least looked like he always tried and wanted to win but couldn't iron out the little inconsistencies here and there that have been plaguing him. Probably a new coach could do him good.
True, their singles players world ranking giving clear evidence. Who will be their opponent in finale? It's interesting to wait.
I think Chinese Taipei is also a very strong contender for finalist. The only weakness is their MS3. - MS1 & 2: surely CTC and WTW - MD1: Olympic Champ Lee/Wang - MD2: depends. They have Lu/Yang which are also impressive, or the backup pair Lee Jhe-Huei/Yang Po-Hsuan. It will be difficult for any team to steal point(s) from their first 4 matches against Taipei MS3 may be not necessary to play. Although Denmark is overwhelmingly strong with 3 MS, I think other teams can try to have point(s) from MD to stretch them as far as possible . MD1 will be either Kim/Anders or Anders/Sogaard (impressive in Sudirman Cup). MD2 can be another scratch pair (Mads Kolding/Christiansen?). On paper, with the strength in MD, Indonesia and Taipei are the teams I can only think they will possibly last to the fifth match against Denmark.
My guess would be that the purpose of splitting Kim and Anders would be to put Anders/Søgaard in MD2. Their performance in Sudirman cup in mind, they look dangerous in a deciding MD2.
Afaik notional ranking will play a part here when coming to scratch pairs and deciding the order of play for doubles. You cannot let the pair with higher notional ranking point to play as MD2. BWF has a calculation tool I believe (but I'm so lazy to check now ). Hence Anders will be not likely to play as MD2, his personal ranking point is the highest amongst the DEN MD pairs.
looks like its possible depending on how the other pair paired. (https://bwf.tournamentsoftware.com/ranking/notionalranking.aspx?rid=70) looks like players from pair ranking 103 and up, is available to play with Kim Astrup. other pairs is maybe also a possibility while retaining Skaarup/Søgaard in MD2.