PETALING JAYA: A well spread winnings by the top 10 men's singles players so far this year has opened up the race for the world title.
Malaysia's singles coaching director Kenneth Jonassen says it will be hard to pinpoint on a pre favouritre for this year World Championships as there had been not any singles player who had dominated the scene.
In fact, most of the top 10 players in the current ranking had won only one Open title, except for France's world No. 5 Christo Popov and Alex Lanier.
Popov triumphed at the Japan Open and German Open while Lanier bagged the titles at Orleans Masters and Singapore Open.
The other winners so far this year are world No. 1 Shi Yuqi of China (Asian Championships), Kunlavut Vitidsarn of Thailand (Malaysian Open), Anders Antonsen of Denmark (Thailand Open), Chou Tien-chen of Taiwan (China Open), Victor Lai of Canada (Indonesian Open), Lin Chun-yi of Taiwan (All-England) and Li Shi-feng of China (Malaysian Masters).
World No. 12 Alwi Farhan of Indonesia also did well to win the Australian Open.
Said Jonassen: "I consider this year championship very open. Throughout the year, no men's singles players has managed to be consistent."
"And I believe that the pool of players with both a chance and belief has grown. There are many top contenders to win the World Tour 750 and above.
Malaysia will be represented by Leong Jun Hao and Justin Hoh, who have yet to win a big title, but Jonassen is happy with their preparation.
"From a training standpoint they are well prepared," said Jonassen.
"The overall eight weeks of total preparation has gone well considering their progress and level of performance seen, has been positive.
"However if they have the ability to showcase it and bringing out the best game next week is the biggest challenge and question…this process demands inner strength and belief."
As for the two women representatives in the world meet - K. Letshanaa and Wong Ling Ching, the Dane said it was all about self-belief.
"Both have very tough draws, but our ambition still needs to be yes we can create the upset needed," he said.
Letshanaa may meet China's third seed Wang Zhiyi in the second round and Ling Ching may face second seed Akane Yamaguchi of Japan if both win their opening first round matches.
"For any major events the goal is to perform at a new personal highest level, we can’t ask for more, if that then means a strong win only time will tell," added Jonassen.
