The non-Chinese contingent will be feeling confident now that Xie Xingfang is confirmed not going to Seoul, while Zhu Lin will also be flying back home, leaving the vulnerable Zhang Ning and the shaky Lu Lan as the flag-bearers.
Lu Lan will start off with a tough match against Yao Jie in R32, followed by Yao's teammate, Judith Meulendijks in R16. Wang Chen [5] will probably be waiting in the Quarter-Final. Even if she can progress to the Semi-Final, Wong Mew Choo [8] will likely be her opponent.
Zhang Ning [2] faces an easier route with Petya Nedeltcheva in R32, and then either Salakjit Ponsana or Julia Wong in R16. Yip Pui Yin [8] or Zhou Mi will likely be her opponent in the QF and if she can beat all of them, a bunch of players like Xu Huaiwen, Pi Hongyan [4], Jun Jae Yun, Kanako Yonekura and Tine Rasmussen will await her in the Semi-Final.
Lu Lan will start off with a tough match against Yao Jie in R32, followed by Yao's teammate, Judith Meulendijks in R16. Wang Chen [5] will probably be waiting in the Quarter-Final. Even if she can progress to the Semi-Final, Wong Mew Choo [8] will likely be her opponent.
Zhang Ning [2] faces an easier route with Petya Nedeltcheva in R32, and then either Salakjit Ponsana or Julia Wong in R16. Yip Pui Yin [8] or Zhou Mi will likely be her opponent in the QF and if she can beat all of them, a bunch of players like Xu Huaiwen, Pi Hongyan [4], Jun Jae Yun, Kanako Yonekura and Tine Rasmussen will await her in the Semi-Final.