What is it: World Tour Super 1000 – YONEX Thailand Open
The first tournament of the HSBC BWF World Tour kicks off at the Impact Arena in Bangkok. The YONEX Thailand Open, a Super 1000 level event promising 1million USD in total prize pool is held from 12-17 January 2021. Held in a ‘bubble’ due to the raging pandemic worldwide, athletes have had to undergo strict testing regimes and a 14 day quarantine period upon arrival to the Thai capital.
Even before the tournament has started, there were news of the Japan team’s withdrawal after an athlete tested positive for Covid. Athletes from countries like China were unable to participate with Covid-related travel rules in place. Nonetheless, this is a highly anticipated event by both athletes and fans, signifying a return of the sport to the highest international level again, with the Tokyo Olympics on the horizon (assuming it happens as planned).
The first of two consecutive Super 1000 events on the 2021 calendar, the YONEX Thailand Open boasts a prize pool of 1million USD. It’s also a vital competition for the World Tour Finals as athletes need to participate in both the YONEX Thailand Open and TOYOTA Thailand Open in order to have a shot at the World Tour Finals.
Athletes; ASEAN – Badminton
Badminton is an important sport in Southeast Asia, with significant success seen in the Olympic games for several of the ASEAN countries. Badminton contributed 8 of Malaysia’s 11 Olympic medals since 1992, with Lee Chong Wei one of the brightest spark for Malaysia over the years. Current players like Mixed Doubles pair Goh Liu Ying & Chan Peng Soon, and SEA Games 2019 Men Singles gold medalist Lee Zii Jia continue to excel in the circuit.
Over in Indonesia, a staggering 19 out of 32 Olympic medals came from Badminton including accounting for all 7 gold medals won. It’s fair to say badminton is a national sport for Indonesia, with a constant presence of players in the world top rankings and a seemingly never-ending pool of talent coming up. Names like Ginting, Jonatan Christie, Mohammad Ahsan & Hendra Setiawan continue to inspire future generations of shuttlers through their spirited displays today.
For hosts Thailand, despite not having won an Olympic medal in the sport, we have seen the first Thai world no 1 for women’s singles in Ratchanok Intanon. With a significant contingent sent to the Rio 2016 Olympic games in the sport, the Thais place a significant emphasis on badminton and what best to show this than hosting this series of the world tour and finals!
The wealth of ASEAN-born talent in badminton is also obvious when some players choose to take up citizenship and compete in the colours of other countries, likely due to a lack of playing opportunities in the country where they were born in.
This is seen historically from some of the players representing Singapore, including China born shuttlers and talent scouted from around the region, such as Indonesian born Ronald Susilo whose claim to fame included beating Lin Dan at the Olympic Games. Singapore in recent years continue to improve and vie for the top honours in the region, with locals like Derek Wong excelling in the Commonwealth Games and going to the Olympics. Highlights from the republic include Men Single’s player Loh Kean Yew & Women’s Singles Yeo Jia Min, with their giant killing exploits against Lin Dan and Akane Yamaguchi making the news in recent years. These two young shuttlers are key reps of the Singaporean team in this series of tournaments in Bangkok.
With such a high level of competition in ASEAN, it’s little wonder how badminton is one of the main sport in the limelight each time the biennial SEA Games roll around!
Who’s playing?
Now, back to the YONEX Thailand Open, we compiled a quick list of the ASEAN players in their respective events. Thailand, being the hosts, has a huge presence in the competition with the remaining ASEAN countries also sending many of their stars.
Action-watch!
The tournament has gone on for a few days now so let’s catch up on some action of the games so far.
On day one, we saw Jonatan Christie, world ranked 7 come up against Loh Kean Yew, Singapore’s top shuttler whose claim to fame came in his victory against Lin Dan in Thailand back in 2019. A match of high intensity and explosive action lasting an hour, it’s a joy to watch these ASEAN athletes battle it out over 3 sets. Highly recommended watch for aspiring shuttlers in the region!
A highly anticipated clash involving Thailand’s badminton queen returning to action. Ratchanok Intanon takes on the youthful Yeo Jia Min from Singapore in another battle between the ASEAN countries. In what’s described as an enchanting encounter, the two players of similar stature battled it out for two intense sets in a display of power, precision and wits. Revisit the highlights of this all-ASEAN Women’s singles match up.
Highlights from the match
The Malaysian mixed doubles pair of Goh Soon Huat & Lai Shevon Jemie found themselves up against the French in the first round match. With a world ranking of 12, the Malaysian pair took the game to their challengers, taking the first set with a smart point won at the serve by Lai. The vocal French pair fought back and took the second set with voracious play at the net.
The final set is the truly spellbinding one in this match up, with the French side racking up a 17-11 lead quickly. Yet, with a sublime mix of skillful defence and opportunistic attack, the Malaysian pair took the set and match through exceptional teamwork, leaving the French pair flummoxed, winning 10 consecutive points. Watch just how they did it!
Notable Socials
OhkaySports Predictions
Now, to end off with a bit of punditry and opinions, most of the favourites and top seeded have successfully made their way into the latter stages of the competition. There are big match ups coming up in the next few days and a bulk of the ASEAN players are still in it. So we definitely see some of our champions being from the ASEAN nations.
There are shuttlers from Denmark, Taiwan, Hong Kong that stand in the way of the Indonesian and Malaysia shuttlers in the Men’s Singles, with 6 of the top 8 seeded players into the quarter-finals. It is hopeful for one of the Indonesians to reach the final by overcoming 4th seeded Victor Axelsen, whilst it will be tough for Malaysian Lee Zii Wei coming up against Taiwanese 2nd seed Chou. OhkaySports predicts for the men’s singles final to have at least a shuttler from Indonesia.
For the Women’s Singles, only Thailand is left, with the other shuttlers from ASEAN eliminated in earlier rounds. Tough players like Taiwan’s Tai, nicknamed Xiao Dai (小戴）and Spain’s Marin remain in the mix and it’s up to Ratchanok INTANON to stamp her authority as the representative of the hosts.
The Malaysian and Indonesia pairs are strong in the Men’s Doubles and this could be where an ASEAN team is likeliest to triumph. For the Women’s Doubles, team Korea appears to have the upper hand in the match ups and the draw. Whilst for the Mixed Doubles, the match in the quarter finals between Thailand and Malaysia is expected to light up the arena as one of the two two pairs in ASEAN would be eliminated! We predict an all ASEAN final in the Mixed Doubles final.
Look out for further updates as the tournament continues!
OhkaySports.Asia 