On a more serious note, this is just a tourney for the back-up players from Pelatnas & some independent players like Kho Henrikho Wibowo & Andrew Susanto. Not surprisingly, both lost yesterday. I will be very interested however in the progress of Firman Abdul Kholik, M. Bayu Pangisthu, Fajar Alfian/Mohd Rian Ardianto, Della Destiara Haris/Rosyita Eka Putri Sari (who reached QF in Singapore SS last week), Edi Subaktiar/Glora Emanuelle Widjaja, and Alfian Eko Prasetya/Annisa Saufika. All of them have difficult matches to contend with today.
Ou Dongni/Yu Xiaohan playing again for the first time after several months since Yu Xiaohan's doping case. Let's see what can they proof here. I guest Dongni/Xiaohan will meet Fukuman/Yonao @ Round 2 if the Japanese succeed in R1 against Qingchen/Yifan
All Chinese MS goes to Round 2, the only one left behind is Wang Zhengming. I think Zhengming a step closer to the end of his career. Will he become the next Du Pengyu? Let's wait until BAC 2016 which maybe become his last tournament.
Andrew Susanto is just like the Mainaky youngsters, they might have that badminton blood in them, but they are going nowhere I am afraid.
Ade Yusuf is seriously ill, he is temporarily back to his hometown. Wahyu now partnered with Hardianto and just lost to Tan Kian Meng/Lai Pei Jing of Malaysia.
Sorry brother corrections here. Wahyu / Hardianto lost to Wang Yilyu / Zhang Wen. Riki / puspita lose to Tan Kian Meng / Lai Pei Jing.
Both INA back-up XD pairs were already lost also Widianto/Dili as well, only Hafiz Faisal/Shella Devi Aulia remain who will take on Xu Chen/Ma Jin tomorrow.
The service rule is a source of great frustration to the spectators and is putting the server under unnecessary pressure. It is also interrupting the smooth flow of a match when the server complains to the chair umpire or confronts the service judge. Besides it also provides a lot of room for a biased service judge to influence the outcome of a match. I don't think Tang Zenning gained any undue advantage with his service. Wouldn't it be better to allow any service where the shuttle is struck so that it travels upwards before it crosses the net. Spectators will rather see a point won or lost through a rally rather than a service fault. Can anyone in the know kindly explain why there is a need for the present service rule. Under the old scoring system where only the server can win points the service rule appears more acceptable as it makes it easier for the receiver to win back the service and scores points from it. Under the rallying point scoring system it only puts undue pressure on the server. If the occasional flick service to the back court in doubles is seen to be an undue advantage to the server then just bring the long service line forward by say half a foot or one foot.
Oh dear me, Sho Sasaki is not a reliable MS after all. So how is Japan going to send their Thomas Cup squad if their MS players are not up to standard now?
Sasaki had opportunity to force rubber games when managed good lead at second game, 11-5 then Shi slowly catched up and fought back to seal the match narrowly, 21-12 / 21-19.
CHINA THOMAS CUP MS1 CL MS2 LD MS3 WZM/THW/XS JPN stand no chances in MS without MOMOTA INDON will need to BANK on MS3
Fajar Alfian/Mohd Rian Ardianto just survived a tough match against Hiroyuki Saeki/Ryota Taohata 21-19, 16-21, 21-19. They will likely face the eighth-seed from India Manu Attri/B. Sumeeth Reddy. They should have a chance of progressing to QF. Indeed, very sad to see that the young players cannot progress far. I am still wondering why they continue to pair Riky Widianto with Richi Puspita Dili? I thought they were split up post the SEA Games 2015 last year? Alfian Eko Prasetya is one talented player who is still struggling to find the right partner. He was doing relatively okay when he was paired up with Annisa Saufika earlier, only for Annisa to succumb to injury He just 22 this month and he needs to win something significant this year!