News
Competition draw announced！
Gods of the world best will fight with their prestige
Draw was released on August 29, and the players scheduled to participate in Daihatsu YONEX Japan Open are settled. Here we would like to introduce the top player's coming to Japan and the points of the upcoming matches.
LEE Chong Wei, AXELSEN, LIN Dan are coming
Men's singles stars are on their way!
The wave of generation change has been coming to badminton Men's single, the most popular among all categories. Will we be witnessing the birth of the new absolute champion? Or will it be the charisma players who represent recent times who show their strength once again? This will become very exciting championship indeed.
The most noteworthy person now is a new hero, Victor AXELSEN (Denmark, WR2nd) who won his first win at the world championship which closed the curtain at August 27. He has won over two Olympic champions from China, CHEN LONG (WR6th) and LIN Dan (WR 4th), and it is the momentum now for him.
In order for such a 23-year-old to retain more than 2015's second-place finish, first he needs to defeat Indian technician KIDAMBI Srikanth (WR8th), then, defeat LIN Dan in the semi-finals who played a fierce battle in the World Championship's finals.
LIN Dan, Battle-harden, who lost to Axelsen in the final game of the World Championship, should surely study and correct the defeat by using his skills. Whether well studied by his opponent Axelsen can show tactics one step higher is likely to be the key to breaking LIN Dan once again.
There are overwhelming voices that we want 34-year-old LEE Chong Wei (Malaysia · WR 7th place) to win this championship. For Chong Wei, who will be attempting to winning the tournament for the seventh time, there is a possibility that this championship will be his last one. There are many fans who wish Chong Wei, who kept himself at the top for such long time by striving such hard work, to win in Japan.
His disappointment in his badminton life with three times silver medal at Olympics and World Championship is immeasurable but if he proceeds to the finals, Chong Wei will put most of the audience on his side. That is his strength.
In addition, the unique characters such as Korea's SON Wan Ho (WR1st) and China's SHI Yuqi (WR3rd) will excite this tournament. Hong Kong's NG Ka Long Angus (WR 9th) and Taipei' s CHOU Tien Chen (WR5th) are likely to win up to the top matches.
Unfortunately, from Japan, no one has entered the main battle. However, young players like Kanta TSUNEYAMA (Tonami Transportion, WR33rd), Kenta NISHIMOTO (Tonami Transportation, WR61st) and Kazumasa SAKAI (Japan Unisys, WR42nd) who won second place in Indonesian Open in June, all will play from qualifies and it will be a good opportunity to win and appeal to the world.
Olympics and World Championship medalist gather.
Aiming for the victory 2 years after last time, world acclaimed queen Okuhara is fully prepared to engage in battle for the title.
Women's singles are to become a luxurious lineup gathering best players of this generation. Last year's Rio Olympics and this August World Championship medalists will compete so we can tell how high the competition level is going to be.
Despite all the winning candidates is world acclaimed queen Nozomi OKUHARA (Nihon Unisys, WR8th). At the World Championship, in the quarter finals she won to Carolina MARIN (Spain, WR5th), Gold medalist of the Rio Olympic Games, in the finals she won the fierce battle against V. Sindhu PUSARLA (India, WR4th) and stood at the top of the world.
She was not in perfect physical condition after Rio Olympics because of injury and right shoulder pain. That's why "I tried to increase my capability and I was able to do a fulfilling training" says OKUHARA emphasizing on physical condition. The result was splendid with bringing gold medal for the first time in 40 years.
A tough fight is waiting for OKUHARA at the tournament. OKUHARA will be entering the tournament as an unseeded player and facing V. Sindhu PUSARLA in the second round. This an extremely "too wasteful" match will be a big turning point. We will see whether OKUHARA's persistence or Sindu's offensive strength attracts the victory.
On the other hand, the second seed Akane YAMAGUCHI (Saishunkan, WR 2nd ) is also gets hopes for the victory. 20 years old YAMAGUCHI lost in the quarterfinals while being at the first seed in the World Championship and now she is strongly willing to pay off regrets at this JAPAN Open tournament. In the ordinary course of things, she will be facing Rio Olympics champion MARIN. The results against MARIN so far are not good, with 1 win and 4 losses. However, if she brings in to the fast rally she is good at, there might be a way to seal strong hits from MARIN.
If she can break through Marin, in the semifinals a battle with OKUHARA is waiting, Japanese player's battle.
Another battle is at the ground where first seed Tzu Ying TAI（Taipei, WR1st） is. Will Tzu Ying TAI face last time champion, scientific player Bingjiao HE（China WR7th）in the semifinals?
5 wins in the past year, Champion of this Tournament in 2012, Tzu Ying TAI was absent from the world championship and her condition is being concerned. World champion of 2013, Ratchanok INTANON (Thailand, WR8th) or maybe rally style Ji Hyun SUNG may also perform well and show their skills.
19 years old Yufei CHEN (China, WR10th) is likely to come up unexpectedly as well. She has just won last year's world juniors, and since last year she also entered the super series. Until recently she barely made it to the quarter finals , however, she suddenly won the bronze medal at the world championship which gained her the name of the next ace.
She has never won the Super Series yet. Now there is the possibility of winning her first victory in Japan by driving her bronze medal momentum. There is roughness in her play, but light footwork makes you feel the once too strong China.
From Japan, Indonesia Open champion Sayaka SATO (YONEX, WR15th) and rapidly growing Aya OHORI (Tonami Transportation, WR14th) are going to participate in the tournament. Both will hit a strong enemy from the beginning, but overcoming this big wall should lead to the realization of the dream in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Blooming of Japan Women's doubles team
Go to the finals in Japan!
Japan women's doubles pairs, were a big success at the World Championships, have the best chance to win this tournament. In the World Championship hold in August, three Japanese pairs played up to more than quarter-finals and FUKUSHIMA／HIROTA (Saishunkan, WR 6th）won silver medal.
FUKUSHIMA／HIROTA pair seems to break suddenly, but in Malaysia open in April there was a sign when they won over Ayaka TAKAHASHI / Misaki MATSUTOMO (Nihon Unisys, WR 1st ) winners of the Rio Olympics. Fukushima keeps looking to even higher stage, saying, "Our strength is in speedy attack, there are issues around the service, so if we can overcome those, we will change again."
In the second round, they will play against Korea's Ye Na CHANG／So Hee LEE（WR 4th）with whom they played a fierce game of 21-14, 25-27, 21-19 at the quarter finals at the world championship. This will be the first turning point.
Gold medalists TAKAHASHI / MATSUTOMO of the Rio Olympics are the first seed. In the quarterfinals they are likely to play against Koharu YONEMOTO / Shiho TANAKA (The Hokuto Bank, WR 8th) of the world championship 8 strong.
Although the Japanese confrontation will be difficult to play, Matsutomo is saying when she looked back on the world championship which her pair won by 3 game 19 points to Naoko FUKUMAN／Kurumi YONAO（YONEX, WR 10th ）. "It was a game where whichever side could have won, but there was a thought that we won't lose at any circumstance." This word represents the dignity of the champion.
During this match, YONEMOTO / TANAKA pair will be fighting for the victory too, but the pair they are going to face is more advantageous TAKAHASHI / MATSUTOMO. YONEMOTO / TANAKA will want to leap at the change by this game with gold medalists.
At the other side of the tournament, Naoko FUKUMAN / Kurumi YONAO are expected to be active as a Japanese players. Qingchen CHEN / Yifan JIA (China · WR 2nd) pair, which is growing at women's doubles now, is likely to become a powerful enemy for them. FUKUMAN / YONAO will play against this world champion pair at quarterfinals if everything goes well.
There is 20 year old Chinese pair who TAKAHASHI / MATSUTOMO is most vigilant about. The skillful Qingchen CHEN's net front play is very troublesome. If FUKUMAN / YONAO can break through here, in the semifinals, they may play against the Kamilla Rytter JUHL／Christinna PEDERSEN (Denmark WR 3rd) who won last year championship.
Until now FUKUMAN / YONAO only got 1 win and 6 losses from Denmark pair who is good from first service to fifth, but hopefully Japanese pair will win the game with their golden pattern that FUKUMAN attacks towards the net and YONAO finishes the game. FUKUMAN talks about the clues of victory, "Denmark pair has long limbs and trembling of the body, so, I want to mislead them by playing at front"
Unpredictable games at Men's doubles
High expectations for Japan's SONODA and KAMURA
In the super series of the past year, the men's doubles champions keep changing and there is no absolute champion.
It is likely to become an unpredictable battle at the Daihatsu YONEX Japan Open Championship as well.
The first seed is last year's champion pair Junhui LI／Yuchen LIU (China, WR 2nd). They were only 14th rank in the world one year ago, but they grow rapidly in the past year. Sharp angle attacks from 195 cm & 193 cm height are overwhelming.
Wining the bronze medals for the first time at the world championship, Keigo SONODA／Takeshi KAMURA (Tonami Transportation WR4th), if they keep wining steadily, they will face with the last year champions in the quarter-finals . Both of them are 169 cm and have a light body, so they usually develop a low and speedy rally. Whether China pair's height wins or Japan pair's speed wins, it will turn into an interesting game.
SONODA／KAMURA are motivated to show that " Japan has strong male players as well"
At another battle ground there are Indonesia's Marcus Fernaldi GIDEON／Kevin Sanjaya SUKAMULJO （WR 3rd） whom Sonoda／Kamura see as their most fierce rival. The Indonesian pair who frequently uses feints hence showing the exciting side of badminton, is one of the winning candidates this time.
Based on the world rankings, we might be seeing GIDEON／SUKAMULJO vs Rio Olympics Silver medalist pair Soon Huat GOH／Wee Kiong TAN (Malaysia, WR7th) in quarter finals. In this game comes up, it will be a battle between those with confidence in technology and speed, and it will be a truly thrilling game.
On the other hand, technician at the 2nd seed, Mathias BOE／Carsten MOGENSEN (Denmark WR1st) might be facing another Danish pair Mads Pieler KOLDING／Mads CONRAD-PETERSEN (WR8th) in the quarter-finals. Knowing each other's tricks too well, it is hard to predict which pair will win.
From Japan, Takuto INOUE／Yuki KANEKO (Nihon Unisys, WR18th), Takuro HOKI／YugoKOBAYASHI (Tonami Transportation, WR22nd) will be joining the tournament as well. Expectations are with both pair to appeal to the world that Japan has more brilliant players besides SONODA／KAMURA pair.
Mixed doubles first and second seeds are Chinese pairs
Will Mr. and Mr. and Mrs. Adcock also advanced to the top?
Mixed doubles, the first and second seeds are China's Kai LU／Yaqiong
HUANG (WR 2nd) and Nan ZHANG／Yinhui LI (WR5th). How will other players challenge this? At the same time, we need to point out that these two pairs have finished the world championship in August without going up to the semifinals, hence they are not rock solid and it is a fact that any pair beside those two has a chance to win.
In such rivalry situation, it is the ADCOCK couple (WR4th) of England which has the reputation of "Mixed Specialists". Both players are devoted to mixed doubles.
Moreover, they give an impression that they are able to talk well, because a family they spend 24/7 together. How to move in a certain situation? Which one will be taking a point? The decisions are being taken thoughtfully between them. They also have a star feeling, and when two of them stand on the court, it feels as if the court gets brighter.
New star may come out from Korea and Thailand which both traditionally strong in mixed doubles. From Japan KAZUNO／KURIHARA（Nihon Unisys, WR17th）, Yuta WATANABE／Arisa HIGASHINO (Nihon Unisys, WR21st) , first of all hopes are see them going beyond the quarterfinals. Especially WATANABE／HIGASHINO who are aiming for the medal at Tokyo Olymipics are expected to show some good performance.
World ranking (WR) as of August 30
