Chen Long and Carolina are the early favourites
GLASGOW: China’s Chen Long and Spain’s Carolina Marin are gunning for their fourth major titles in a row at the World Badminton Championships starting today.
Both stars turn up in Scotland after winning world singles titles and Olympic gold in Rio de Janeiro.
Chen Long is only seeded fifth behind world No.1 Son Wan-ho of South Korea, Malaysian veteran Lee Chong Wei, Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen and compatriot Shi Yuqi.
And the 28-year-old also has a tough draw, with arch-rival Chong Wei looming in the quarter-finals.
Chong Wei, who will be 35 in October, won his fourth All-England Open title this season and the hope for Malaysia is that he continues in the game until the next Olympics, and wins the elusive gold in Tokyo in 2020.
He took silver in Beijing 2008, London 2012 and Rio 2016.
Wan-ho, the new world No. 1, spearheaded his country to victory in the Sudirman Cup in May, and winning the individual world title in Glasgow is his season’s priority.
“It is my target for the year,” confirmed the 29-year-old, who has never gone beyond the quarter-finals. I want to do much better than I have done at past World Championships.”
Lin Dan, the five-time world champion, is seeded seventh this year, and he could be classed as the opening round villain as his first opponent is Scotland’s No 1. Kieran Merrilees.
Lin Dan has happy memories of Glasgow. He led China to the 2007 Sudirman Cup triumph at the nearby Scotstoun Centre – 10 years on and he remains one of the stars of the game.
Marin, meanwhile, is seeded third in the women’s singles which is missing world No. 1 Tai Tzu-ying.
The Taiwanese is competing in the World Student Games in her home country.
Heading the seedings are the respective world No. 2 and 3, Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi and South Korea’s Sung Ji-hyun. All the top seeds have a bye in the opening round.
Marin has already tasted success at the Emirates Arena, winning the 2013 Scottish Open and her relative lack of success this season, resulting in a drop to No. 4 in the world, does not affect her confidence.
“I always focus on a single tournament,” said the 24-year-old, indicating that Glasgow 2017 is the one.
“I haven’t won a Super Series title this year, but it was similar last year and I won the biggest one of all.”
The gold medal triumph in Rio has made Marin one of the most famous sports people in Spain – and her ability to peak at the right time could help add to her legendary status.
Yamaguchi is just 20 years old, and has been a member of the Japanese national team for six years.
The women’s singles has been the most competitive event at recent World Championships, and it could be the same beginning today.
Asia dominate the doubles seedings.
China’s Lu Jinhu and Liu Wuchen are favourites in the men’s doubles, Japan’s Misaki Matsutomo and Ayaka Takahashi are top seeds in the women’s doubles and China’s Zheng Siwei and Chen Qingchen head the mixed doubles rankings.