Chinese eyeing another romp in Sudirman Cup

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From the looks of things, China is set for another
romp at the Sudirman Cup.

Unless, of course, Denmark, England, Indonesia,
Malaysian, Hong Kong, Korea or Thailand could come up
with something big to scuttle the Chinese bid to
extend their domination of the World Team
Championships.

China has won the Sudirman Cup five times and it
appears nothing can stop the world badminton power
from reasserting its supremacy in the event firing off
June 11 at Scotstoun in Glasgow.

World champion Lin Dan and Olympic titlist Zhang Ning
are both the current world No. 1s in singles while all
around doubles expert Gao Ling underscores the
strength in depth of a country that already held the
Thomas and Uber Cup before claiming the Sudirman Cup
over Indonesia in Beijing two years ago.

That marked the first time that the event’s all three
major trophies were in the same hands.

The Sudirman Cup is one of the top-level tournaments
leading to the Philippine Open where some of the
world's finest players, led by men's singles world No.
3 Chen Hong of China, and Germany's Xu Huaiwen and
France Pi Hongyan, Nos. 5 and 6 in the ladies singles
in the world, are seeing action on July 18-22 at the
Philsports Arena in Pasig City, Metro Manila.

China kicks off its campaign against Thailand, whose
strongest hope of an upset will be from world No. 3
mixed doubles pair of Sudket Prapakamol and Saralee
Thoungkongkam. The vaunted Chinese share Group 1A with
England and Malaysia.

South Korea, the three-time former champion, heads
Group 1B and is set to slug it out with Indonesia with
the winner expected to go all the way to the final.
The South Koreans are actually in search for a top
class singles player. Park Sung Hwan is the highest
rated at No. 17 in the latest world rankings while
Hwang Hye Youn is the leading woman player at No. 15
in the world.

Indonesia prides itself as the event’s first winner 18
years ago with Olympic champion Taufik Hidayat
bannering the team in the men’s singles and Nova
Widianto, Natsir Lilyana and Flande Limpele out to
carry the cudgels in the doubles events.

The Indons have brought a strong squad to Glasgow but
strength in depth could still pose as a problem for
the hopes of taking the title for a coveted second
time.

Denmark, former semifinalist, and Hong Kong are the
other teams in Group 1B.
Malaysia looms as the event’s dark horse but the Danes
and the English are expected to carry the European
hopes with either side fancied to claim at least a
bronze medal.

Former world No. 1 Peter Gade spearheads the Danish
roster while leading lady Tine Rasmussen is raring to
redeem herself from an injury-marred stint in China
two years ago with a respectable showing this year.
England’s world champions Nathan Robertson and Gail
Emms will be the team to beat in the mixed doubles but
lack of top-class singles player will dent hopes of
climbing higher than the fifth place in Beijing.