Group A Preview: Thailand-India Clash Likely to be Decisive

India will have a glimpse of a future without their two biggest icons when they take on China, Thailand and Finland in Group A of the TotalEnergies BWF Sudirman Cup Finals 2021 in Vantaa.

An Indian team without either Saina Nehwal or Pusarla V. Sindhu at major events is almost inconceivable, but followers of the team will watch with interest how the next generation of women’s singles players fares.

In terms of world rankings, Ashmita Chaliha, Aakarshi Kashyap and Mugdha Agrey follow Pusarla and Nehwal, but none of the three figure in the line-up. Instead, India have 20-year-old Malvika Bansod (No.110), and 18-year-old Aditi Bhatt.

Bansod has had a good season so far, winning the Uganda International in February and the RSL Lithuanian International in June, besides making the quarterfinals of the Austrian Open in May.

Young players such as Aditi Bhatt (left) and Tanisha Crasto are likely to get a look-in.

Bhatt’s last event was the Singapore Youth International Series in November 2019; among her significant achievements that year was winning the women’s doubles (with Tanisha Crasto) and making the women’s singles semifinals at the Dubai Junior International Series.

The Indians have much more firepower in the other categories. Sai Praneeth and Kidambi Srikanth (men’s singles), Chirag Shetty/Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and MR Arjun/Dhruv Kapila (men’s doubles), Ashwini Ponnappa/Sikki Reddy (women’s doubles) and Rankireddy/Ponnappa (mixed doubles) will make it difficult for the other teams.

Chinese Depth

With China having tremendous depth, their topping the group is nearly a foregone conclusion. The critical contest in the group will therefore be for second place, likely between Thailand and India.

While China head to Vantaa without Olympic silver medallist Chen Long, they have sufficient options in men’s singles (Shi Yu Qi, Lu Guang Zu, Li Shi Feng).

Olympic champion Chen Yu Fei.

Olympic champions Chen Yu Fei (women’s singles) and Wang Yi Lyu/Huang Dong Ping (mixed doubles) lend solidity to the team, along with other strong doubles players like Chen Qing Chen, Jia Yi Fan, Du Yue, Liu Cheng, He Ji Ting, Tan Qiang and Zhou Hao Dong.

Upcoming players like Wang Zhi Yi (women’s singles) and Feng Yan Zhe (doubles) will have their taste of major event competition at the senior level.

Thais Balance Youth and Experience

Thailand will be without Ratchanok Intanon, who suffered a personal crisis recently with the death of her mother. However, the Thais still have sufficient resources in women’s singles in the form of Pornpawee Chochuwong and Busanan Ongbamrungphan.

The Thais have a good mix of youth and experience. While they have reliable names like Dechapol Puavaranukroh/Sapsiree Taerattanachai (mixed doubles) and Rawinda Prajongjai/Jongkolphan Kititharakul (women’s doubles), they also have upcoming youngsters like the 19-year-old Benyapa Aimsaard – who plays all three categories; 20-year-old Phittayaporn Chaiwan and three-time world junior champion Kunlavut Vitidsarn.

The Thais haven’t had significant results in men’s doubles lately, and will hope that players like Supak Jomkoh, Kedren Kittinupong, Tanupat Viriangkura and Natthapat Trinkajee can deliver.

Finland are the lightweights in the group, but they will hope to put up a good show on home soil. The Finns will be led by No.67 Kalle Koljonen, who was semifinalist at the European Championships in May. s

Sudirman Cup News

2021 in Review: Newcomers Tahiti Add Freshness, Colour

2021 in Review: Newcomers Tahiti Add Freshness, Colour

28 December 2021
Enjoy Aarhus ‘Live’ from Your Living Room

Enjoy Aarhus ‘Live’ from Your Living Room

9 October 2021
Momota Yet to Regain Confidence, Says Coach Park

Momota Yet to Regain Confidence, Says Coach Park

5 October 2021
‘Once You Step Away from Podium, You Start from Zero Again’

‘Once You Step Away from Podium, You Start from Zero Again’

4 October 2021
China Ace Final Test

China Ace Final Test

4 October 2021
Momota Falls but Japan Ride Malaysian Challenge

Momota Falls but Japan Ride Malaysian Challenge

3 October 2021
Smooth Ride for China into Final

Smooth Ride for China into Final

2 October 2021
Young Malaysians Upstage Indonesia’s Stars

Young Malaysians Upstage Indonesia’s Stars

2 October 2021
Heroic Heo Sets Up Korean Triumph

Heroic Heo Sets Up Korean Triumph

1 October 2021
‘Stopping This Just Kills You Inside’

‘Stopping This Just Kills You Inside’

1 October 2021
Momota Strikes Big in Japan’s Victory Over Malaysia

Momota Strikes Big in Japan’s Victory Over Malaysia

1 October 2021
Vitidsarn Surprises Shi Yu Qi But China Top Group

Vitidsarn Surprises Shi Yu Qi But China Top Group

30 September 2021
Teen Prospects Get the Stage in Vantaa

Teen Prospects Get the Stage in Vantaa

29 September 2021
Momota Overcomes Shaky Start; Japan Blank England

Momota Overcomes Shaky Start; Japan Blank England

29 September 2021
Indonesia Clinch Tie but Brian Yang Steals Show

Indonesia Clinch Tie but Brian Yang Steals Show

28 September 2021
Young Malaysians Take on the World

Young Malaysians Take on the World

27 September 2021
Indonesia Seek Trophy They Have Not Won Since 1989

Indonesia Seek Trophy They Have Not Won Since 1989

27 September 2021
Finns Cherish Positives Despite Opening Loss

Finns Cherish Positives Despite Opening Loss

26 September 2021
Put the Headphones on for ‘Live’ Badminton Experience

Put the Headphones on for ‘Live’ Badminton Experience

26 September 2021
Denmark Are a Tricky Team, Says Axelsen

Denmark Are a Tricky Team, Says Axelsen

25 September 2021
England Geared to Spark in Vantaa

England Geared to Spark in Vantaa

25 September 2021
Group D Preview: Japan Have Point to Prove

Group D Preview: Japan Have Point to Prove

24 September 2021
Group C Preview: ROC Could Spring a Surprise

Group C Preview: ROC Could Spring a Surprise

22 September 2021
Meet Elias, Tahiti’s 14-Year-Old Sudirman Cup Starlet

Meet Elias, Tahiti’s 14-Year-Old Sudirman Cup Starlet

22 September 2021
Group B Preview: Chinese Taipei in Tricky Terrain

Group B Preview: Chinese Taipei in Tricky Terrain

21 September 2021
Sudirman Cup Offers Praneeth Fresh Start

Sudirman Cup Offers Praneeth Fresh Start

21 September 2021
Time for Young Guns to Shine

Time for Young Guns to Shine

18 September 2021
Sudirman Cup: Teams Field Star-Studded Line-Ups

Sudirman Cup: Teams Field Star-Studded Line-Ups

15 September 2021
Sudirman Cup: Finland Face China in Opening Tie

Sudirman Cup: Finland Face China in Opening Tie

8 September 2021
Sudirman Cup: China Drawn With Thailand, Finland, India

Sudirman Cup: China Drawn With Thailand, Finland, India

25 August 2021
Egypt Qualify to Sudirman Cup Finals

Egypt Qualify to Sudirman Cup Finals

4 March 2021
On This Day: Korea Snap 10-Year Chinese Dominance

On This Day: Korea Snap 10-Year Chinese Dominance

28 May 2020
PARTNERS