Bangkok
Team China is hoping for a clean sweep of this year’s Thomas and Uber cups in Bangkok, sending in men’s badminton big guns Chen Long, Shi Yuqui and Lin Dan as their women shuttlers aim for a fourth win on the spin.
The prestigious biennial event, which starts on Sunday (May 20), brings together 16 top teams from five continents for a week of intense competition for the men’s Thomas Cup and the Uber Cup which is contested by the women.
China, the world’s highest ranked team, arrive with a point to prove on the men’s side after ignominiously tumbling out in the quarters on home soil two years ago.
Olympic champion Chen Long, is joined by this year’s All England champion Shi Yuqui – and the man he conquered in the final, the evergreen Lin Dan.
Flanked by a strong doubles side, China should cruise through a group with France, Australia and an under-strength India, who have left out a number of their stars to keep them fresh for the Asian Games.
“China’s men are strong this year … everyone will be praying to avoid them,” said Rajes Paul a journalist and badminton expert at The Star newspaper in Malaysia.
Japan will likely provide the main challenge with “bad boy” Kento Momota – banned from the Rio Olympics for illegal gambling – back in their ranks, she added.
Last month Momota stunned the hot favourite Chen Long to be crowned badminton’s Asian champion, breezing past Malaysian great Lee Chong Wei in straight sets on his way to the final.
Reigning Thomas Cup champions Denmark, who in 2016 made history by becoming the first non-Asian team to take the silver-gilt trophy, have their own ace in the pack – world number one Viktor Axelsen.
But they must compete without doubles star Carsten Mogensen, who has been ruled out with sickness.
Denmark’s group includes Russia, Algeria and Malaysia for whom veteran Lee Chong Wei is making his final Thomas Cup tilt.
