Tournament date : 13th-19th February 2012 Venue : Macau Forum, Avenida Marciano Baptista Entry Closing dates : - by country name => 10th January 2012 - by player name => 24th January 2012 Seeding date : 26th January 2012 Draw date : 30th January 2012 Participating country : THOMAS Cup = 14 countries 01) China 02) Chinese Taipei 03) Hongkong China 04) India 05) Indonesia 06) Japan 07) Kazakhstan 08) Korea 09) Macau China 10) Malaysia 11) Singapore 12) Srilanka 13) Thailand 14) Vietnam UBER Cup = 13 countries 01) China 02) Chinese Taipei 03) Hongkong China 04) India 05) Indonesia 06) Japan 07) Kazakhstan 08) Macau China 09) Malaysia 10) Singapore 11) Srilanka 12) Thailand 13) Vietnam Official website : http://www.thomasuberasia2012.com/ Time-table/Schedule (tbc) : http://www.thomasuberasia2012.com//?mod=news&type=general_information&lang=en 01) 13-16 February 2012, Group Stage matches 02) 17 February 2012, Quarter Final 03) 18 February 2012, Semifinal & 5th-8th Play-off, Uber Cup Final 04) 19 February 2012, Thomas Cup Final
Entry list by player name has been released through BWF website : http://www.bwfbadminton.org/file_download.aspx?id=65550&tid=1
Could someone confirm that since KOR didn’t send a team for the Uber Cup, does it means that as holder they are already in the final stage later?
Yes, KOR in the final. Asian qualifying now gives the top 5 men and top 4 women the place for the final.
So, the rule is you’re already qualified for the final as the reigning champion. But, you can forfeit that and go through the qualification rounds and try to lose your place. What an odd regulation? BWF is just gets better by the days.
China didnt send Lin Dan & Fu/Cai, Wang YH,etc. Means China is confident in TC & Uber finals is secured even though without their top players playing, I suppose http://www.bwfbadminton.org/file_download.aspx?id=65550&tid=1
As the reigning champion in Thomas Cup and as the host in the Uber Cup, CHN does not have to participate in the qualification round. But there's also no rules that prevents CHN from participating. So, Li Yongbo decides to take advantage of this "loop-hole" as Chen Jin desperately needs the points. Many countries have complained to BWF about this matter, to no avail.
The most important is of course for Chen Jin to gain points. Also for the others to gain points, Chen Long, Du and Wang. China wants to make sure Du and Wang, even though they can't qualify for Olympics, would get ranking high enough to get seeded in tournament and makes other players more difficult to qualify for Olympics. Also, the men doubles need to make sure of top 8 and other men doubles, higher ranking. For the women, I guess same reasons, higher ranking. If possible 6 or 7 WS in top 8 ranking. Another less important reason is to give the players the experiences for the real team final. But I don't know the reason to include Li Gen in the team. I hope he is playing both singles and doubles, then Indonesia might be able to beat China, get 1 point in singles and 2 points in doubles.
Ticket Only(Daily) [TABLE] [TR] [TD="width: 82"] 13/2-17/2 [/TD] [TD] MOP$300 (Free Seating) [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="width: 82"] 18/2-19/2 [/TD] [TD] MOP$500 (Free Seating) MOP$650 (Numbered Seating) [/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] Wa! it is very expensive!!! Free Seating will do, since the stadium is usually only 10% filled.
What's wrong with that? If a team wants to forfeit automatic qualification, why should there be a rule against that?
The idea of inviting the reigning champions to participate is a great idea and I think that should extend to Olympics, World Championship etc. But why on earth they plant a get out clause to allow one to decline the place offered and does the qualification instead?
Men's team CHN only needs to be in the top 5 of the men's competition. With this squad, in past years, I would say it's hard for CHN to win but easy to get in the top five. This year, CHN has an equal chance of winning (due to other teams having glaring weaknesses as well), but there are more teams able to compete, so if REALLY unlucky CHN can get booted out. (My presumed top 5 are CHN, MAS, KOR, INA, JPN. Challengers: TPE & IND. Dark horse: THA) For those teams not listed above, I give CHN >99% chance of winning. For those outside the top 5, CHN can sweep singles (especially with CL at the helm). TPE has a chance to take both doubles, so a bit of danger for CHN there. But even on the off chance that CHN lose to a dark horse, it has good chance of winning every tie among the favourites. Overall, quite a lot of margin for error if the aim is just to finish among the top five. There are no clear favourites to win the whole thing, but CHN is in the group of possible winners. (If LD and CY/FHY were included, of course CHN would be outright favourites. It speaks volumes about how much CHN depend on these top stars, when without them, they are suddenly demoted to about even with other top nations.) Women's team CHN only needs to be in the top 4 of the women's competition. With KOR out of the way, never mind top 4, CHN is the outright favourite even with this squad (they can field their weakest possible lineup after reaching SF - thus confirming qualification - and still win the whole thing). Singles: Just looking at the singles lineup (though depleted), it's easy to see CHN win any tie outright with a 3-0 scoreline, and even easier to see them get a 2-1 lead, requiring only a simple point from doubles. Biggest contenders for singles (and estimations assuming best lineups): IND (Saina): 3-0 (40%), 2-1 (60%) TPE (2 top WS, but inconsistent): 3-0 (60%), 2-1 (35%), 1-2 (5%) JPN (balanced squad): 3-0 (70%), 2-1 (30%) THA (2 good WS): 3-0 (70%), 2-1 (30%) HKG (with Yippy): 3-0 (80% may be a bit flattering to HKG), 2-1 (20%) INA: 3-0 (90%), 2-1 (10%) Others: 3-0 (> 95%), 2-1 (< 5%) On the off chance that that CHN slip up, doubles can hold them up. Doubles: Even though CHN's WD prowess seem less dominant compared to past years, they are still dominant, and even more so when KOR is out of the picture. WD1: Without KOR, this point is almost guaranteed. In fact, TQ/ZYL can be rested for half the ties and only be brought in for some tougher WD1 encounters (i.e. JPN, INA, TPE, SIN, MAS) WD2: Almost a guaranteed point whoever they field since most teams have at most only one top WD pair, with the exception of JPN which I can imagine stealing this point. MAS' improved WD2 have some chance of upset. WD40: Still the preferred lubricant.
I'd say with this squad, malaysia can beat China maybe? since Lee Chong Wei will give 1 assure point, Koo kien kiet/ Tan boon Heong should win against the non famous pair of China. And HH may bring surprise too, did malaysia call the player that won the bronze medal last sea games? They beat Bona/Ahsan on the team tournament last sea games i think. Maybe they can spring out the surprise. I hope that Malaysia will qualify to Thomas Cup Indonesia also has a chance to win against China too 2 doubles, and 1 single i guess? i think Taufik should be able to handle WMZ or DPY
