Two more traps ahead
Latest News 1:53 PM
WORLD BADMINTON CHAMPIONSHIPS
PARIS (AUG 23 - 29)
KUALA LUMPUR: Great hope is on Malaysia’s Lee Chong Wei to stop China’s Lin Dan from winning a fourth world title.
But two others – China’s Chen Jin and Indonesia’s Simon Santoso – are also making strong statements on their ability to emerge as the new world champion.
And national singles coach Hendrawan sees the duo as the ones with the strongest chances to pull the rug from under the favourites.
Chen Jin is ranked fourth in the world while Simon is in sixth spot and both are drawn in the lower half of the draw with second seeds Peter Gade-Christensen of Denmark.
Barring any upsets, Simon is expected to take on Chen Jin in the last eight and one of them may be up against Gade-Christensen in the semi-finals.
“Simon and Chen Jin are not new players on the circuit but I think, we will see their strongest performances in the world championships in Paris,” said Hendrawan.
The Indonesian added that Simon, who won his first Open title this year in Taiwan two weeks ago, had grown into a more confident player.
“It is not only about Simon winning at the Taiwan Open but there is renewed confidence in his game,” said Hendrawan.
“I have seen him play this year and he is looking more determined than ever. There is more sharpness in his game too.”
The 25-year-old Simon will be accompanied by two other Indonesians – Taufik Hidayat and Sony Dwi Kuncoro – in Paris but his more illustrious seniors are not expected to go far.
Former champion Taufik has not won any major title since he left the All-Indonesia Badminton Association (PBSI) two years ago to enjoy his journey as an independent player while Sony has been rather inconsistent this year following the return of a back injury to haunt him – albeit on and off.
Hendrawan said that the 24-year-old Chen Jin will be more dangerous, especially after losing to Lin Dan in the final of the world championships in India last year.
“This time, I do not think Chen Jin will let go easily. I see him as the most dangerous player in the lower half of the draw,” he said.
“Chen Jin won the Swiss Open in March but he has not competed in any Open tournaments since the Thomas Cup Finals. He had been busy playing in the Chinese League.
“His opponents will not know what to expect from him, especially when he had stayed away from the international circuit for some time. He will be a tricky one to beat.
“Players from China really prepare hard to strike at major tournaments and it will not be easy to get past them.”
Besides Chen Jin and Simon, Hendrawan also wants all eyes to be on South Korean Shon Wan-ho. The Korean youngster has not won a major tournament but he did ruffle some feathers.
Wan-ho is drawn to meet Hong Kong’s Hu Yun in the opening round and may meet Gade-Christensen in the second round.
“Shon, however, is a relatively new face in the world championships and it will all depend on whether he can handle the pressure. I will not be surprised if Peter loses to him.”
Top seed Chong Wei and Lin Dan are in the other half of the draw with Taufik, Jan O Jorgensen of Denmark, Park Sung-hwan of South Korea and Bao Chunlai of China.
PARIS (AUG 23 - 29)
KUALA LUMPUR: Great hope is on Malaysia’s Lee Chong Wei to stop China’s Lin Dan from winning a fourth world title.
But two others – China’s Chen Jin and Indonesia’s Simon Santoso – are also making strong statements on their ability to emerge as the new world champion.
And national singles coach Hendrawan sees the duo as the ones with the strongest chances to pull the rug from under the favourites.
Chen Jin is ranked fourth in the world while Simon is in sixth spot and both are drawn in the lower half of the draw with second seeds Peter Gade-Christensen of Denmark.
Barring any upsets, Simon is expected to take on Chen Jin in the last eight and one of them may be up against Gade-Christensen in the semi-finals.
“Simon and Chen Jin are not new players on the circuit but I think, we will see their strongest performances in the world championships in Paris,” said Hendrawan.
The Indonesian added that Simon, who won his first Open title this year in Taiwan two weeks ago, had grown into a more confident player.
“It is not only about Simon winning at the Taiwan Open but there is renewed confidence in his game,” said Hendrawan.
“I have seen him play this year and he is looking more determined than ever. There is more sharpness in his game too.”
The 25-year-old Simon will be accompanied by two other Indonesians – Taufik Hidayat and Sony Dwi Kuncoro – in Paris but his more illustrious seniors are not expected to go far.
Former champion Taufik has not won any major title since he left the All-Indonesia Badminton Association (PBSI) two years ago to enjoy his journey as an independent player while Sony has been rather inconsistent this year following the return of a back injury to haunt him – albeit on and off.
Hendrawan said that the 24-year-old Chen Jin will be more dangerous, especially after losing to Lin Dan in the final of the world championships in India last year.
“This time, I do not think Chen Jin will let go easily. I see him as the most dangerous player in the lower half of the draw,” he said.
“Chen Jin won the Swiss Open in March but he has not competed in any Open tournaments since the Thomas Cup Finals. He had been busy playing in the Chinese League.
“His opponents will not know what to expect from him, especially when he had stayed away from the international circuit for some time. He will be a tricky one to beat.
“Players from China really prepare hard to strike at major tournaments and it will not be easy to get past them.”
Besides Chen Jin and Simon, Hendrawan also wants all eyes to be on South Korean Shon Wan-ho. The Korean youngster has not won a major tournament but he did ruffle some feathers.
Wan-ho is drawn to meet Hong Kong’s Hu Yun in the opening round and may meet Gade-Christensen in the second round.
“Shon, however, is a relatively new face in the world championships and it will all depend on whether he can handle the pressure. I will not be surprised if Peter loses to him.”
Top seed Chong Wei and Lin Dan are in the other half of the draw with Taufik, Jan O Jorgensen of Denmark, Park Sung-hwan of South Korea and Bao Chunlai of China.
Posted by Lucas Liau
on 1:53 PM.
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