China will have little to fret about as they prepare to annex their 14^th World Mixed Team Championships title at the TotalEnergies BWF Sudirman Cup Finals 2025 on home turf in Xiamen.

The core of the team has been part of several successful campaigns, and even the younger faces have already achieved outstanding results. The home team and their fans will expect to hit their first goal — qualify on top of Group A ahead of Thailand, Hong Kong China and Algeria – without much fuss.

The 13-time champions appear to have ticked all boxes, in terms of strength in five categories. With the likes of Shi Yu Qi and Li Shi Feng in men’s singles, Chen Yu Fei and Wang Zhi Yi (women’s singles), Wang Chang and Liang Wei Keng (men’s doubles), Chen Qing Chen and Jia Yi Fan (women’s doubles) and Feng Yan Zhe, Wei Ya Xin, Huang Dong Ping and Jiang Zheng Bang in mixed doubles, they have a great luxury of choice. Then there are players like Liu Sheng Shu, Tan Ning, Guo Xin Wa and Chen Fang Hui, who give China the kind of depth no other team can dream of.

Yet, playing on home turf, there will be pressure on China, for anything less than a title win could be seen as a disappointment. In their group, their stiffest test could come from Thailand.

On their day, Thailand could throw up a problem or two for China’s first goal of topping Group A. With Kunlavut Vitidsarn winning one of his career’s biggest titles – the Badminton Asia Championships – recently, Thailand will look to him to lead the way.

Thailand have three strong women’s singles players to choose from — Pornpawee Chochuwong, Ratchanok Intanon and Supanida Katethong to choose from — and it won’t be beyond them to nick a point off China.

The key to Thailand’s campaign could be Dechapol Puavarnukroh, who could be fielded in two categories. With Kedren Kittinupong in men’s doubles and Supissara Paewsampran in mixed, Puavarnukroh has had a string of impressive performances this season. Meanwhile, his former partner Sapsiree Taerattanachai is also in the team, and it will be interesting to see how she is used.

Thailand have two sets of siblings in the team – Benyapa and Nuntakarn Aimsaard, and Pakkapon and Panitchaphon Teeraratsakul – and they are likely to play significant roles in the campaign.

Hong Kong China are dependent on Lee Cheuk Yiu and Ng Ka Long Angus in men’s singles and Tang Chun Man/Tse Ying Suet in mixed, and will look to Yeung Nga Ting/Yeung Pui Lam to deliver in women’s doubles. While their highest ranked men’s doubles pair is No.87 (Hung Kuei Chun/Lui Chun Wai), they do have the choice of fielding experienced players like Lee Chun Hei Reginald and Law Cheuk Him, potentially setting them up for some surprise results.

It will be a momentous occasion for African champions Algeria who are making their Sudirman Cup debut. In recent years the Algerians have strung up good performances. Adel Hamek and Yasmina Chibah lead their hopes in singles, while Koceila Mammeri will be key to their campaign, with Youcef Sabri Medel in men’s doubles and Tanina Violette in mixed.