BROTHER AFFAIR
Korea’s world no.5 team Ko Sung Hyun and Shin Baek Choel rolled past five former champions last year at the BCA Indonesia Open to become #TheRealDeal here in Jakarta, including a semifinal win over a pair of good friends and compatriots Lee Yong Dae and Yoo Yeon Seong. However, an all-Korean brother affair awaits as they are in the same first quarter of the men’s doubles draw this year. Will Ko/Shin retain their title?
Ko Sung Hyun (R) and Shin Baek Choel edged compatriots Lee Yong Dae and Yoo Yeon Seong in the 2015 semifinal. (Credit: Badmintonphoto)
Yoo Yeon Seong (L) and Lee Yong Dae have won 7 titles over the past year and will be the favorite in Rio this summer. (Credit: Badmintonphoto)
Ko Sung Hyun (L)/ Shin Baek Choel are ranked as high as no.5 in the world but are just the number 3 team from Korea and could miss the Olympics due to country quota of two teams. (Credit: Badmintonphoto)
OLYMPIC PRELUDE
Malaysia no.1 doubles and first-time Olympic qualifiers Goh V Shem and Tan Wee Kiong will square off against fourth-seeded Korean duo Kim Sa Rang and Kim Gi Jung, who are enjoying a resurrecting pre-Olympic season as they’ve won two Superseries Premier events in Fuzhou and Shah Alam over the past year. Both are seen as medal contenders in Rio this summer.
2012 Olympians Goh Liu Ying and Chan Peng Soon of Malaysia are presented a tough opener ahead as well. They will play in a rematch of 2016 Malaysia Open Superseries final against Olympic champions Zhang/Zhao.
Goh V Shem (L) and Tan Wee Kiong made back to back Superseries semifinals earlier this year. (Credit: Badmintonphoto)
Watch Malaysia's top mixed doubles team Chan and Goh in VF "VICTOR Formula" coaching videos. (Credit: Badmintonphoto)
HOME MAGIC
VICTOR player, three-time world champion Liliyana Natsir was the mixed doubles winner with Nova Widianto in the Indonesia Open back in 2005 and a women’s doubles champion with Vita Marissa in 2008 after it had been upgraded to Superseries level, but failed to summon the home magic again with her current partner Tontowi Ahmad . The chances for the second seeds got brighter after they were handed a relatively easy draw this year. The first hurdle they are expected to meet will be eighth seed, Indonesian Susanto/Jordan.
2016-05-11 |
2016-06-05 |
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