China name strong line-up for Thomas Cup qualifiers

BY RAJES PAUL

KUALA LUMPUR: Top seeds China have named five men’s singles players, who are all among the top 10 in the world rankings, for the Thomas Cup qualifying round from Feb 16-22 at the Kuala Lumpur Badminton (KLBA) Stadium. 

They are world number one Chen Hong, Lin Dan (world No 2), Xia Xuanze (No 4), Bao Chunlai (No 6) and Chen Yu (No 9). 

The strong cast surely puts China as the heavy favourites to emerge as the champions in the Thomas Cup qualifiers. 

With all the five Chinese players competing against each other to be considered for the Athens Olympic Games, hosts Malaysia and the other teams can expect a torrid time indeed. 

The top 16 in the world rankings list after April 30 are assured of their places for the Olympic Games, with each country being allowed to have a maximum of three representatives. 

China will have to choose the best three players and these singles players’ performances in the qualifiers will count greatly. 

They also have an equally strong line-up in the men’s doubles as well. The five players named are world number five Cai Yun-Fu Haifeng, Sang Yang-Zheng Bo (world No 8) and reserve Chen Qiqiu. 

Last year, youngsters Cai Yun-Haifeng reached the semi-finals of the World Championships and also finished as runners-up at the Malaysian and German Opens. 

Sang Yang-Zheng Bo, meanwhile, won the Indonesian Open and reached the quarter-finals of the China, Denmark and Singapore Opens. 

Chen Qiqiu is the most experienced doubles player and can partner any of the other doubles shuttlers. 

National singles chief coach Misbun Sidek, however, is not intimidated. 

“We knew the teams will name their strongest line-ups. But for us, expectations are certainly high as we are playing on home ground. The training has been intensified and now it is up to the players to deliver,” he said. 

The national players will undergo full-time training at the KLBA Stadium next week. 

“We are currently training at the KLBA only in the mornings,” he said. 

Malaysia, who are seeded third for the qualifiers, will be represented by four singles and six doubles players. 

The singles players are World Championships runner-up Wong Choong Hann, Lee Chong Wei, Mohd Roslin Hashim and Kuan Beng Hong. The doubles players are Choong Tan Fook-Lee Wan Wah, Koo Kien Keat-Gan Teik Chai and Chang Kim Wai-Chew Choon Eng. 

The draw for the qualifiers will be conducted tomorrow. 

For the record, Malaysia beat China 3-1 in the 2002 Thomas Cup Finals in Guangzhou. 

However, when the two teams met in a friendly in Shenzen last November, China powered to a 3-1 win on the strength of their men’s doubles players. 

 

 

 

 

Singles: Chen Hong, Xia Xuanze, Lin Dan, Bao Chunlai, Chen Yu. 

Doubles: Sang Yang-Zheng Bo, Cai Yun-Fu Haifeng, Chen Qiqiu.