A full schedule for MD and XD (finally) and R16 for MS makes it an entertaining day ahead. 5 matches involving INA players: XD R16 Nova Widianto/Liliyana Natsir [1] vs Han Sang Hoon/Hwang Yu Mi -- a tricky match, but, the top-seed should progress. XD R16 Kristof Hopp/Birgit Overzier vs Flandy Limpele/Vita Marissa [3] -- a slightly easier task for Flandy/Vita against the GER pair. MS R16 Ville Lang vs Sony Dwi Kuncoro [6] -- a warm-up match for Sony ahead of the big match on Thursday. MD R16 Markis Kido/Hendra Setiawan [1] vs Guo Zhendong/Xie Zhongbo -- a tricky task for the top-seed and I hope they pull it through. MD R16 Luluk Hadiyanto/Alvent Yulianto vs Tadashi Ohtsuka/Keita Masuda -- the Japanese's pair resurgence over the past few mths means that this will be a tough one for Luluk/Alvent. Let's see if they can beat the Japanese. Other interesting matches in MS: Lin Dan [1] vs Park Sung Hwan -- this is a biggie...and Park might creat a huge upset. Lin will need to be at his best. Peter Gade [8] vs Shoji Sato -- should be an entertaining tie...with Peter having an edge. Przemyslaw Wacha vs Bao Chunlai [3] -- a tricky tie for Bao, but, he should go through. Other players who should go through to the QF: Chen Jin, Wong Choong Hann, Lee Hyun Il, and Lee Chong Wei. In the XD: He Hanbin/Yu Yang [3] vs Anthony Clark/Donna Kellogg -- Clark/Kellogg are always a tough one to beat....and He/Yu need to be at their best. Nathan Robertson/Gail Emms vs Zheng Bo/Gao Ling [2] -- a thrilling encounter is in store, with Zheng/Gao having the edge. Other pairs who will progress: Sudket Prapakamol/Saralee Thoungthongkam, Robert Mateusiak/Nadiezda Kostiuczyk, Lee Yong Dae/Lee Hyo Jung, and Thomas Laybourn/Kamilla Rytter-Juhl. Practically all the matches in MD are heavy-weights: Koo Kien Keat/Tan Boon Heong vs Shuichi Sakamoto/Shintaro Ikeda -- the Japanese pair has consistently beaten Koo/Tan twice in a row by now (the WC 2007 and AE 2008). Will it be 3-in-a-row? Koo/Tan still have the edge though. Jung Jae Sung/Lee Yong Dae [3] vs Lars Paaske/Jonas Rasmussen -- the last time they met in the Thomas Cup, the Danes prevailed in 3 tight sets. Can they do the same thing today? It will be a long and hard match with the Koreans having the slight edge. Lee Jae Jin/Hwang Ji Man vs Choong Tan Fook/Lee Wan Wah [4] -- a potential banana-skin for the MAS veteran pair. But, they are still superior to the KOR. Jens Eriksen/Martin Lundgaard Hansen vs Fu Haifeng/Cai Yun [2] -- a rematch of Athens 2004 where Fu/Cai got eliminated by Eriksen/Hansen. Can the veteran Danes repeat their heroic act? Fu/Cai obviously have the edge. Other pairs that will go through: Michal Logosz/Robert Mateusiak, Howard Bach/Bob Malaythong.
oh dear. i am working too hard. just realized only 45mins till the first matches start. got to run home, eat and then glue myself in front of the streaming window. see you guys in a bit.
We certainly hope badminton become more popular in Germany and other western countries. I like to see more western players get into top20 or even top10 in rangking. A few countries dominating the badminton sport event is not helping to make this game more popular world wide.
I agree with Badmania - LD vs PSH is a biggie. Can LD overcome PSH ? Or will PSH rise to the occasion this time ? LD showed flashes of his speed yesterday which will make it hard for PSH - NG WEI had no answer at all even though he tried very hard. PSH, however, plays a very patient game (obviously taught by Li Mao that one cannot rush against LD). PSH is going to play the rallies and not give LD the chance to capitalise on his speed. LD has to be careful that he does not rush it too much either else he will make a lot of unforced errors, as always if speed is not properly controlled. What will be interesting is how Li Mao has plotted for this match - has he got something up his sleeves for this big one ? One can expect the best from PSH - he has been saving up for this one. My prediction : a 'fight to the finish' type match. No quarters asked and no quarters will be given. Either way.
