Star shuttlers set sights on defense of Sudirman Cup

National badminton team head coach Li Yongbo is confident his high-profile shuttlers will be unstoppable in their defense of the Sudirman Cup, which starts in Scotstoun, Glasgow today.

"We are coming here to win. That is the only aim for the team," Li was quoted as saying by Titan Sports.

"In 1995, we won the Sudirman Cup in a surprising way as we were not the favorites at that time. Now we have so many top players and there is no reason to lose the title."

China, which has won the Sudirman Cup five times, boasts a strong 17-member squad containing 16 world champions.

A relaxed Li, who as a player steered the team to victory in the final against South Korea ten years ago, expects to be playing cards while his team fights for the trophy.

"The strength of the teams is similar to the last time we were here at Scotstoun in 1997," he said.

"At that time, the coaches would like to play cards while discussing the starting line-up," Li smiled. "This time, we will also play cards and allow the players to join in. It is a good way to relax."

Li's confidence comes from the fact that all five top positions in the latest rankings released by the International Badminton Federation are held by Chinese players.

World Champion Lin Dan and Olympic Champion Zhang Ning are both the current world No1s in singles, while women's doubles specialists Zhang Yawen/Wei Yili, Gao Ling/Huang Sui, and Yang Wei/Zhang Jiewen usually take turns in the top three.

Xie Zhongbo/Zhang Yawen's consistent performances in the mixed doubles and Fu Haifeng/Cai Yun's improvement in major competitions emphasizes the strength in depth of a country that already held the Thomas and Uber Cup before claiming the Sudirman in Beijing two years ago.

It was the first time that all three trophies were in the same hands.

The team's icon Lin is looking to emulate the sweep achieved by China at the recent table tennis world championships.

"They swept all the titles and we also want to keep the trophy as long as possible. We will not let you down."

Outmatched opponents

Li is convinced that none of the rivals have China's strength in depth.

"Malaysia have improved the most, while Indonesia is strong in men's singles and the mixed doubles. But they are still not strong enough overall. South Korea are quite strong in doubles, but the Danish team is too old."

Li singled out Malaysia and urged the players to take them seriously.

"Malaysia are traditionally strong in the men's side. But in recent years, their women's player are improving fast. The emergence of women's player Wong Mew Choo aincreases their chances in the mixed doubles."

China takes on Thailand in the round-robin stage today before meeting other group members Malaysia and England later this week.

The Chinese should easily top the group and progress to Saturday's semifinals to meet the runners-up from the other elite group, comprising Indonesia, South Korea, Hong Kong and Denmark.

There will be an interesting first day encounter between South Korea, three-time former winners, and the beaten finalists from two years ago Indonesia. The winners will have high hopes of going on to reach the final.

About 500 players from 48 nations make up the biennial tournament first contested in 1989 when only 28 countries entered.

Played on a divisional basis with promotion and relegation, the event gives lesser lights some time on the world stage so fans can enjoy a rare glimpse of countries such as Cyprus and Latvia from the lower divisions.

Mongolia, who would have added a colorful extra dimension, were late withdrawals.

The South Koreans are struggling to find a top-class singles player. Park Sung Hwan is the highest man at No 17 in the latest world rankings, while Hwang Hye Youn is the leading woman at No 15.

Indonesia were the first winners 18 years ago and have Olympic Champion Taufik Hidayat in the men's singles and can also call on doubles stars Nova Widianto, Natsir Lilyana and Flande Limpele.

The Indonesians have sent a huge squad to Glasgow, but strength in depth could still be a barrier for their hopes of taking the title for a second time. Denmark, former semifinalists and Hong Kong are the other teams in Group 1B.

The Danes and the English, who will have a strong support, carry European hopes, and either side would be delighted to go home with a bronze medal.

The ever-reliable Peter Gade heads the Danish line-up, while leading lady Tine Rasmussen will be hoping for better fortune than at the Sudirman Cup in China two years ago when she suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon and is only now fighting back to full fitness.

England's world champions, Nathan Robertson and Gail Emms, will be strong in the mixed doubles, but lack of a top-class singles player will dent hopes of climbing higher than the fifth place.

Group 1A schedule:

Monday (18.30 local time): China v Thailand; Malaysia v England

Tuesday (18.30): Malaysia v Thailand; England v China

Thursday (09.30): China v Malaysia (13.30) England v Thailand

Group 1B schedule:

Monday (18.30): Denmark v Hong Kong; Korea v Indonesia

Tuesday (13.30): Denmark v Indonesia; Korea v Hong Kong

Wednesday (13.30): Indonesia v Hong Kong; (18.30) Denmark v Korea

Agencies/AFP contributed to the story