Easily the best of the year
Yang Wei/Zhang Jiewen (WR #1)
In their first two tournaments of the year, they lost to Gao Ling/Huang Sui in the final. In Japan, they lost to Ra Kyung Min/Lee Kyung Won in the semifinals. Other than that, they did not lose, winning 6 titles including the Olympics and additionally, also helped China win the Uber Cup. They are also runaway leaders in the world rankings.
Also-runs:
Gao Ling/Huang Sui
Lee Kyung Won/Ra Kyung Min
In 2005, watch out for:
Young Du Jing/Yu Yang (WR #18) (Du was World Junior champ in 2002 and Yu likewise in 2004) is already more than a match for the also-runs. With only 6 tournaments (winning 2 minor ones and appearing in 2 other finals), they manage to end the year ranked #18. They will probably push into the top 5 by the end of 2005.
Saralee/Sathinee (WR #6) is the most improved pair among the elite.
Most likely to be pair of the year in 2005:
Yang/Zhang's dominance does not look likely to end soon.
Yang Wei/Zhang Jiewen (WR #1)
In their first two tournaments of the year, they lost to Gao Ling/Huang Sui in the final. In Japan, they lost to Ra Kyung Min/Lee Kyung Won in the semifinals. Other than that, they did not lose, winning 6 titles including the Olympics and additionally, also helped China win the Uber Cup. They are also runaway leaders in the world rankings.
Also-runs:
Gao Ling/Huang Sui
Lee Kyung Won/Ra Kyung Min
In 2005, watch out for:
Young Du Jing/Yu Yang (WR #18) (Du was World Junior champ in 2002 and Yu likewise in 2004) is already more than a match for the also-runs. With only 6 tournaments (winning 2 minor ones and appearing in 2 other finals), they manage to end the year ranked #18. They will probably push into the top 5 by the end of 2005.
Saralee/Sathinee (WR #6) is the most improved pair among the elite.
Most likely to be pair of the year in 2005:
Yang/Zhang's dominance does not look likely to end soon.