Men’s singles: Lee Chong Wei (MAS), Sony Dwi Kuncoro (INA), Joachim Persson (DEN), Peter Gade (DEN), Chan Yan Kit (HKG), Andrew Smith (ENG), Wong Choong Hann (MAS), Ng Wei (HKG). Women’s singles: Zhou Mi (HKG), Tine Rasmussen (DEN), Wang Chen (HKG), Pi Hongyan (FRA), Xu Huaiwen (GER), Wong Mew Choo (MAS), Saina Nehwal (IND) and Yu Hirayama (JPN). Men’s doubles: Markis Kido-Hendra Setiawan (INA), Zakry Abdul Latif-Mohd Fairuzizuan Tazari (MAS), Lee Yong Dae-Jung Jae Sung (KOR), Mathias Boe-Carsten Mogensen (DEN), Candra Wijaya-Tony Gunawan (INA-USA), Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong (MAS), Simon Mollyhus-Anders Kristiansen (DEN) and Cho Gun Woo-Yoo Yeon Seong (to be confirmed). Women’s doubles: Wong Pei Tty-Chin Eei Hui (MAS), Lilyana Natsir-Vita Marissa (INA), Kamilla Rytter Juhl-Lena Frier Kristiansen (DEN), Ha Jung Eun-Kim Min Jung (KOR), Charmaine Reid-Nicole Grether (CAN-GER), Duang Anong Aroonkesorn-Kunchala Voravitchitchaikul (THA), Jo Novita-Greysia Polii (INA) and Judith Meulendijks-Yao Jie (NED). Mixed doubles: Nova Widianto-Lilyana Natsir (INA), Thomas Laybourn-Kamilla Rytter Juhl (DEN), Anthony Clark-Donna Kellogg (ENG), Robert Blair-Imogen Bakier (ENG-SCO), Sudket Prapakamol-Saralee Thoungthongkam (THA), Songphon Anugritayawon-Kunchala Voravitchitchaikul (THA), Yoo Yeon Seong-Kim Min Jung (KOR, to be confirmed) and Flandy Limpele-Vita Marissa (INA).
No big slap at all...no need to forfeit the Finale SS, if no top player participates...I am more than happy to substitute them as long as return airfare tickets, hotel, daily allowance, participation fee provided....
It is regrettable that China pulled out of the SSF. The coaches of Team China showed little respect to the BWF and Chinese badminton fans, and undermined the developement of badminton. However, maybe one of the reason of the withdrawal is the format of the competition. In SSF, the payers will have to play 3 to 5 games in 4 days, all against top players in the world. Maybe the coaches think it is too much for the players after they completed an exhausting Olympic year. If the group format is changed to a normal play off format, so that players would play 3 games at most, then Chinese coaches would consider participating the tournament more favourably. And BWF should include the SSF in the ranking system (same ranking points as other regular SS), in order to give top player more incentive to take part.
The MS field is weak and disappointing. WS field is not bad. MD field is the strongest. WD field not great. XD field OK.
Not only is China withdrawing from this year's SS Final, China has also withdrawn from next year's SS in Malaysia and South Korea. All these 3 SS are being dumped by China on the pretext of their own internal training program smells fishy. I think something is going on here. China is obviously pissed off, but over what?
Only GOD Knows....! ..but who cares..? Maybe is the tourney format....! ...Hmm....makes them difficult to ...'fix'.....?????......
Not so good news turning into reality.. ..boy, with the news of CHN's team fully withdrawing from this SS Finale and now Taufik most likely bowing out, hmm, it almost takes the air out of this event. Not to undermine the other participating players, but from a fan's perspective of looking forward to top players playing, that's almost half of the show is gone. Will there be any more last minute pull-outs/withdrawals??....I certainly hope not, just for the sake of the people planning to go and watch the event.. On that note, I just hope all of you guys who are going there will enjoy the rest of the matches; and as Han mentioned earlier, "just have fun!"..
CHN was offered to host it but maybe the format was unfavourable to them so it was not taken up. What big slap? BWF expected CHN's withdrawal.CHN threatened boycott 2 years in a row.This year, BWF got wise and decided to go ahead with the SSF,regardless of CHN. Finally, BWF acted right.But what it should have added is bonus ranking points like the Tennis Masters.Big ranking points to go with big money.
You brought up very well thought out points. Agree that playing 5 matches over 4 days is not ideal.This is the SSF. No player should have to play 2 matches in a day. That means the outcome may be partially determined by blatant scheduling.Imagine a player having a gruelling morning match and then facing a tough opponent in the evening. And yes, ranking points should have been included to make SSF a year end bonus worth working for.
Yes, the scheduling could have been extended at least another day to reduce the impact of playing 2 matches per day. But that would eat up in terms of cost. Like it or not, BWF hasn't really been able to attract huge sponsorships.
Smell fishy? I doubt. It's not a secret that most players (CHN or not) admit that CHN internal matches are more competitive and the training is intensive. Since this is not OG year, the ranking point is not as important. It's a better idea to get the young guns to be ready (as quite a few retired), rather than simply dumping them to the big stage.
Great, so you tell me basketball players have the motivation, regardless their current performance / ranking, then I ask you why badminton players have to cry for help from others? Aren't we are all adults, who should be self-motivated, rather than keeping looking for big brothers? Yes, NBA did help. So as CHN for badminton. You tell me which nation currently do not have CHN coaches in their competitive clubs or even national teams? Quite a few ex-CHN players joined other teams, and helped them to be very competitive in both individual and team events. Less population means less talent. If so, US should have no excuses for not produce local competitive players. It has much larger population than MAS, IND, DEN, etc. So, don't not put your own failure into whatever excuses. If you judge by population, India should over take CHN long time ago. US, RUS, etc should be 1 of the top houses. MAS, IND and DEN should be no where to be found. It's about the system, not just bean counting of heads. By the way, I thought your soccer example just proved "less population" theory to be wrong. Otherwise, CHN and India should meet in FIFA world cup final each time. It's not about the population, not all about the hard work. It's about the system, the way of working smart.
