China Ace Qualification for Worlds

Powerhouse China have secured the maximum representation of four qualifiers in each of the five categories at the upcoming TOTAL BWF World Championships, but will miss the services of two-time runner-up Li Xuerui.

Former Olympic champion Li hasn’t played competitively since sustaining an injury at the Rio Olympics in August last year, yet was fourth among the reserves and well placed to qualify. However, the invitation was declined as she is still recovering from the injury. China’s hopes in Women’s Singles will be shouldered by Sun Yu (featured image), He Bingjiao, Chen Yufei and Chen Xiaoxin.

Japan showcased their strength in Women’s Singles and Women’s Doubles with four qualifiers each. Emerging power India, similarly, secured four qualifiers in Men’s Singles and Women’s Singles – categories in which they have achieved tremendous results in recent times.

BCA Indonesia Open champion Sayaka Sato of Japan, the highest reserve in Women’s Singles, qualified along with other reserve players such as Chen Xiaoxin, India’s Rituparna Das, Indonesia’s Lyanny Alessandra Mainaky and India’s Tanvi Lad.

Sayaka Sato has three compatriots in Women’s Singles – Akane Yamaguchi, Nozomi Okuhara and Aya Ohori, who had qualified in Phase 1.

India achieved their full quota of four Women’s Singles players with Rituparna Das and Tanvi Lad qualifying behind Pusarla V Sindhu and Saina Nehwal. China, Japan and India are the only three countries with four representatives in Women’s Singles.

Japan have a formidable presence in Women’s Doubles with their top four pairs qualifying. First reserves Yuki Fukushima/Sayaka Hirota – winners of the Celcom Axiata Malaysia Open – comfortably qualified behind Phase 1 qualifiers and compatriots Misaki Matsutomo/Ayaka Takahashi, Naoko Fukuman/Kurumi Yonao and Yonex-Sunrise India Open winners Shiho Tanaka/Koharu Yonemoto.

China, who have long dominated this category, will also field four pairs – Chen Qingchen/Jia Yifan, Luo Ying/Luo Yu, Huang Dongping/Li Yinhui and second reserves Bao Yixin/Yu Xiaohan.

Apart from Japan and China, Korea have four qualifiers – reserves Kim Hye Rin/Yoo Hae Won and Chae Yoo Jung/Kim So Yeong will join Phase 1 qualifiers Lee So Hee/Chang Ye Na and Jung Kyung Eun/Shin Seung Chan.

France will be happy as three of their Women’s Doubles pairs made the list – Emilie Lefel/Anne Tran, Lorraine Baumann/Audrey Fontaine and Delphine Delrue/Lea Palermo.

A few eligible players and pairs from Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and Chinese Taipei declined their invitations as they will be participating in the SEA Games or Summer Universiade that coincide with the World Championships.

India’s improving fortunes in Men’s Singles is reflected by their four qualifiers. Fourth reserve Sameer Verma secured his place alongside compatriots Ajay Jayaram, Kidambi Srikanth and Sai Praneeth.

Other countries with four qualifiers are China, Denmark and Hong Kong. China will bank upon reigning champion Chen Long (wild card), five-time winner Lin Dan, Shi Yuqi and Tian Houwei, while Denmark’s young prospect Anders Antonsen plays the biggest event of his fledgling career alongside senior compatriots Viktor Axelsen, Jan O Jorgensen and Hans-Kristian Solberg Vittinghus.

Hong Kong too have a strong Men’s Singles squad, with the likes of Ng Ka Long, Wong Wing Ki, Hu Yun and sixth reserve Wei Nan having qualified.

Indonesia will have three Men’s Doubles pairs on duty in Men’s Doubles – in-form pair Marcus Fernaldi Gideon/Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo, Angga Pratama/Ricky Karandasuwardi and Mohammad Ahsan/Rian Agung Saputro.

Korea, a traditional power in Men’s Doubles but who have seen prominent retirements over the past year, accepted the invitation of one pair – No.73 Chung Eui Seok/Kim Duk Young.

Like Denmark and China, Japan have four pairs – Takeshi Kamura/Keigo Sonoda, Yugo Kobayashi/Takuro Hoki, Yuki Kaneko/Takuto Inoue and seventh reserves Hiroyuki Endo/Yuta Watanabe.

All the three doubles categories won’t see the reigning champions. Men’s Doubles champions Mohammad Ahsan/Hendra Setiawan’s (Indonesia) invitation was declined (Ahsan has qualified with Rian Agung Saputro), while Chinese star Zhao Yunlei’s retirement last year meant that she won’t be around to defend her two titles – in Women’s Doubles (with Tian Qing, also retired) and Mixed Doubles (with Zhang Nan).

China’s Mixed Doubles campaign will be led by Zheng Siwei/Chen Qingchen and Lu Kai/Huang Yaqiong, who, between them, have won all but one of the six World Superseries titles this season. Zhang Nan/Li Yinhui and third reserves Wang Yilyu/Huang Dongping are also headed to Glasgow.

Chinese Taipei, Indonesia and France too have four qualified pairs in Mixed Doubles.

The full quota of players in all five categories has been filled. Any withdrawal until 48 hours before the draw on 9 August 2017 will be filled by the highest eligible reserve player.

The TOTAL BWF World Championships will be held in Emirates Arena, Glasgow, from 21 to 27 August 2017.

Click here for full lists:

Men’s Singles

Women’s Singles

Men’s Doubles

Women’s Doubles

Mixed Doubles

 

World Championships News

BWF Permits Participation of Neutral Athletes from Russia and Belarus

BWF Permits Participation of Neutral Athletes from Russia and Belarus

29 August 2023
Wrap: Great Matches – TOTAL BWF World Championships 2017

Wrap: Great Matches – TOTAL BWF World Championships 2017

29 August 2017
Okuhara Prevails in Epic – Singles Finals: TOTAL BWF World Championships 2017

Okuhara Prevails in Epic – Singles Finals: TOTAL BWF World Championships 2017

28 August 2017
‘Four’ Sure! – Doubles Finals: TOTAL BWF World Championships 2017

‘Four’ Sure! – Doubles Finals: TOTAL BWF World Championships 2017

27 August 2017
Lin in Seventh Final – Semi-Finals: TOTAL BWF World Championships 2017

Lin in Seventh Final – Semi-Finals: TOTAL BWF World Championships 2017

27 August 2017
‘Axel-lent’ Job! – Semi-Finals: TOTAL BWF World Championships 2017

‘Axel-lent’ Job! – Semi-Finals: TOTAL BWF World Championships 2017

26 August 2017
Queen Carolina Dethroned – Day 5: TOTAL BWF World Championships 2017

Queen Carolina Dethroned – Day 5: TOTAL BWF World Championships 2017

26 August 2017
Hong Kong’s Doubles Delight – Day 5: TOTAL BWF World Championships 2017

Hong Kong’s Doubles Delight – Day 5: TOTAL BWF World Championships 2017

25 August 2017
Chung/Kim Stay in Hunt – Day 4: TOTAL BWF World Championships 2017

Chung/Kim Stay in Hunt – Day 4: TOTAL BWF World Championships 2017

25 August 2017
Top Seed Tumbles – Day 4: TOTAL BWF World Championships 2017

Top Seed Tumbles – Day 4: TOTAL BWF World Championships 2017

24 August 2017
Tremors Hit Men’s Doubles – Day 3: TOTAL BWF World Championships 2017

Tremors Hit Men’s Doubles – Day 3: TOTAL BWF World Championships 2017

24 August 2017
Mama Mia – Europe’s Hopes Rise!  – Day 3: TOTAL BWF World Championships 2017

Mama Mia – Europe’s Hopes Rise! – Day 3: TOTAL BWF World...

23 August 2017
Singles Seeds Stumble – Day 2: TOTAL BWF World Championships 2017

Singles Seeds Stumble – Day 2: TOTAL BWF World Championships 2017

22 August 2017
Lee Stunned in Opening Round – Day 2: TOTAL BWF World Championships 2017

Lee Stunned in Opening Round – Day 2: TOTAL BWF World Championships...

22 August 2017
No Mercy for Merrilees – Day 1: TOTAL BWF World Championships 2017

No Mercy for Merrilees – Day 1: TOTAL BWF World Championships 2017

21 August 2017
Bumpy Start for Michelle Li – DAY 1: TOTAL BWF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS 2017

Bumpy Start for Michelle Li – DAY 1: TOTAL BWF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS...

21 August 2017
Ready for Liftoff!

Ready for Liftoff!

21 August 2017
Ahmad/Natsir Brimming With Confidence

Ahmad/Natsir Brimming With Confidence

20 August 2017
Marin Lays it On the Line

Marin Lays it On the Line

20 August 2017
Twist in the Script? – Men’s Singles Preview

Twist in the Script? – Men’s Singles Preview

20 August 2017
Welcome to Glasgow!

Welcome to Glasgow!

19 August 2017
Too Close to Call – Women’s Singles Preview

Too Close to Call – Women’s Singles Preview

18 August 2017
Energy Versus Guile – Men’s Doubles Preview

Energy Versus Guile – Men’s Doubles Preview

16 August 2017
Japan Have the Edge – Women’s Doubles Preview

Japan Have the Edge – Women’s Doubles Preview

14 August 2017
Form Favours China – Mixed Doubles Preview

Form Favours China – Mixed Doubles Preview

12 August 2017
‘Worlds’ Blockbuster On The Cards

‘Worlds’ Blockbuster On The Cards

9 August 2017
Son, Yamaguchi Top-Seeded for Worlds

Son, Yamaguchi Top-Seeded for Worlds

6 August 2017
Son Has Tail Up with No.1 Ranking

Son Has Tail Up with No.1 Ranking

2 August 2017
Injury Dashes Jorgensen’s Hopes

Injury Dashes Jorgensen’s Hopes

1 August 2017
12BET an Official Partner of World Championships

12BET an Official Partner of World Championships

24 July 2017
Thomas Composes a World Championships Winner

Thomas Composes a World Championships Winner

7 July 2017
Li Xuerui’s Hopes Alive for Worlds

Li Xuerui’s Hopes Alive for Worlds

9 June 2017
Tan Kim Her for World Coaching Conference

Tan Kim Her for World Coaching Conference

17 May 2017
Top Guns Confirm Places

Top Guns Confirm Places

16 May 2017
Chen Long Gets ‘Worlds’ Wild Card

Chen Long Gets ‘Worlds’ Wild Card

4 May 2017
Chen Long’s Fate in the Balance

Chen Long’s Fate in the Balance

28 April 2017
Lin Dan Stakes Glasgow Claim

Lin Dan Stakes Glasgow Claim

20 April 2017
Jorgensen, Tai Lead Race to Glasgow

Jorgensen, Tai Lead Race to Glasgow

24 February 2017
Badminton ‘Worlds’ Going to Glasgow in 2017

Badminton ‘Worlds’ Going to Glasgow in 2017

14 November 2014
PARTNERS