Nothing big surprise is emerged in mixed doubles first round, the closest tie involved former world number three Malaysian pair Chan PS/Goh LY v Shin BC/Chae YJ, the Korean sealed the last sixteen spot in rubber games.
Three men's singles biggest stars in the contemporary era, two-time World Champion Chen Long (1st seed), two-time Olympic Champion Lin Dan (2) and two-time Olympic Games silver medalist Lee Chong Wei (3) always be the strong contender for all tournaments including this continental championships. Top-seed Chen has tricky opening round against Korean promising star Jeon Hyeok Jin, Malaysian hero Lee CW should have no problem to eliminate 2010 edition runner-up Wang Zhengming also title-holder Lin Dan is expected to eliminate Indonesian youngster Ihsan Maulana Mustofa. Barring any upsets, the much-anticipated Lin-Lee clash will happen at semifinal here. Other names who occupy seeding position, Tian Houwei (5), Chou Tien Chen (6) Tommy Sugiarto (7) and Srikanth Kidambi (8) may hope to make some noises and spring upset in this event. Two players have withdrawn, Kento Momota (JPN/4th seed) and Kashyap Parupalli (IND), Taiwanese Wang Tzu Wei also Singaporean Derek Wong Zi Liang were promoted to replace their vacant slot in main draw.
R/32 highlights : Tian Houwei (CHN) v Son Wan Ho (KOR), Takuma Ueda (JPN) v Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk (THA), Anthony Ginting (INA) v Vincent Wong Wing Ki (HKG), Hu Yun (HKG) v Sho Sasaki (JPN), Lee Dong Keun (KOR) v Srikanth Kidambi (IND)
The fierce competition at stake in women’s singles discipline, new world number one Ratchanok Intanon is hot favourite to defend title considering her fantastic Superseries hat-trick recently followed by current All England champion Nozomi Okuhara and home ace, the reigning Olympic Champion Li Xuerui. BAC this year also will decide three home players fate, Li XR and two Wangs – Shixian and Yihan to fight for Olympic ticket as they have slim margin in Race to Rio ranking. Former champion Sung Ji Hyun, Indian mega star Saina Nehwal and Chinese Taipei talent Tai Tzu Ying complete the top 8 seed in this department.
R/32 highlights : Li Xuerui (CHN) v Porntip Buranaprasertsuk (THA), Goh Jin Wei (MAS) v Akane YAmaguchi (JPN), Sung Ji Hyun (KOR) v Sun Yu (CHN), Nozomi Okuhara (JPN) v Busanan Ongbumrungpan (THA)
Top-two seeds, Lee YD/Yoo YS and Ahsan/Setiawan have no perfect start in this new season as both of them are still hunting first Superseries title. The meeting of these two high-profile pairs in final will face tough challenge, Lee/Yoo start their campaign against Lee SM/Tsai CH then they’re slated to meet Pratama/Suwardi in last eight and either Chai B/Hong W or teammates Kim GJ/Kim SR at semifinal. The Indonesian top-ranked Ahsan/Setiawan will find real test at last eight as Endo/Hayakawa are their possible opponent and either newly-crowned Singapore Superserier winner Fu HF/Zhang N or former champion Ko SH/Shin BC in last four. The scenario may change as men’s doubles category is quite unpredictable, the underdogs often stun those established names.
R/32 highlights : Chai B/Hong W (CHN) v Kamura/Sonoda (JPN), Fu HF/Zhang N (CHN) v Angriawan/Saputra (INA)
The Asian Champion title for women’s doubles discipline may not far from these four pairs, Matsutomo/Takahashi, Maheswari/Polii and two Chinese leading combinations, Tang YT/Yu Y and the Olympic Champion Tian Q/Zhao YL. An early meeting between two title contenders will pit Tang/Yu and Maheswari/Polii at last sixteen, the winner of this tie then will face either Jung KE/Shin SC or Matsuo/Naito in quarterfinal and 2014 champion Luo twins sisters or 2015 WC bronze medalist Fukuman/Yonao are their next possible opponent. At top-half of draw, the world number one Matsutomo/Takahashi is predicted to cruise into semifinal but dangerous home young duo Chen QC/Jia YF may trouble them at second round. Fourth seed Tian/Zhao also are favoured to fulfill their seeding position, Awanda/Istirani, Chang YN/Lee SH or Fukushima/Hirota are their possible rivals en route to last four. Go AR/Yoo HW pulled out then Supajirakul/Taerattanachai advance to next round without playing, also three pairs get first round bye, Matsutomo/Takahashi (1st seed), Luo Ying/Luo Yu (2) and Tian Q/Zhao YL (4).
R/32 highlights : Gutta/Ponnappa (IND) v Chang YN/Lee SH (KOR)