BWF World Championships-Doubles’ Contenders

When the BWF World Championships kick off on August 10 at Istora Senayan, Jakarta, anyone with an eye for fast paced, nail-biting contests will look towards the doubles’ matches.  With the modern doubles games increasingly focusing on attacking play, the event will not be short of action. Though a highly unpredictable event, there are clear favourites for all the three doubles’ events. No pair is short on motivation or skill and will offer their unique wares for the world to see at this marquee event. The smallest of margins will decide who goes the distance. Essentially Sports looks at the pairs that seem to have that little extra, to show the World that they are the best.

Fu Haifeng–Zhang Nan (Men’s Doubles)

Though seeded 5 at this year’s World Championships, the Chinese pair are surely the favourites to win the title considering their recent form. The pair has just pocketed the Chinese Taipei Open, a big achievement considering the competition in place. Finals at the Indonesian Open, Quarterfinals at the Australian Open and a much successful Sudirman Cup Campaign earlier have boosted their confidence a lot. Both players have achieved incredible success at the big events (with different collaborates though). As seen in badminton, in events as competitive and huge as the World Championships, the nerves is what we count.
One drawback though would be Zhang Nan’s participation in the mixed doubles event. Nan and Yunlei are favourites in that event but the effects of one event on another may just creep in. It will be on Fu Haifeng to take the lead in such circumstances and put in a much better performance.

Lee Yong Dae–Yoo Yeon Seong

Barring the upset of the All England Championships, the Koreans have had a season every doubles pair would dream of.  Three titles, 2 semi-finals and 1 runners up finish have surely given the 2014 silver medallists the impetus they wanted. However, the World No.1 pair is notorious for lacking a small spark and losing the plot in the matches that matter– a typical and repeated case of so-near-yet-so-far. Lee Yong Dae has 6 silver medals, 3 of them from World Championships itself and that speaks volumes about the situation. Yet, this might serve as motivation to them and this might prove to be their year.

Mohammad Ahsan-Hendra Setiawan

The Indonesian pair has had a quiet 2015, winning only the Malaysian Open Super Series. It cannot be called as a bad one in the Men’s doubles category either, with consistent semi-final and quarterfinal appearances making sure their confidence does not drop. They have the talent and the temperament to win the World Championships and make it their big break this year.

Luo Ying – Luo Yu  (Women’s doubles)

The Chinese twins have had a decent 2015, making it at least to the quarterfinals in every event they have entered and managing to win one. They have been improving steadily and quickly and their ranking have improved  too. Accused of being overly defensive, the girls have made it their weapon and have the confidence to tire out the opponents before going for the kill.

Nitya Krishinda Maheswari- Greysia Polii

The World No.5 are in their form, pairing in the Women’s Doubles event, coming into the event with a title win at the Chinese Taipei and finishing 2 in Indonesia, incidentally the venue for the World Championships. Like the Chinese twins, the Indonesians have grown as players very quickly and have the skills to make this year’s  Women’s Doubles title their own.

Misaki Matsutomo- Ayaka Takahashi

The Japanese have climbed to the World No.1 spot because of their consistent performances over the past 52 weeks and that surely implies that they are the favourites. They have bagged a few titles along the way peppered with some good last four finishes. They will surely live up to the No.1 seeding and with the whole of Japan resting their hopes on the girls; they have much to play for.

Zhang Nan – Zhao Yunlei  (Mixed Doubles)

If there is one Mixed Doubles’ pair to bet a fortune on, it is the Chinese. Delivering flawless performances for more than a year now, the defending champions are clear front-runners to take home the title. Zhang Nan is currently the best doubles’ player with Yunlei being the perfect partner. With the right mix of aggression and cool, the World No.1 can walk away with the title barely breaking a sweat.

Tontowi Ahmad- Liliyana Natsir

Ahmad/Natsir is the perfect mix of experience and aggression. The Indonesians have been consistent ever since they teamed up and would have been very pleased with their performances. Natsir has one of the best games at the net in Doubles and she knows what it takes to win a World Championship. Her record-breaking 3 titles are testimony to that. She has chosen Ahmad wisely and they both complement each other well to form a lethal force.

Xu Chen-Ma Jin

Again one of the most feared Mixed Doubles’ pairing, the Chinese gel like no other. Ma Jin is incredible in the front of the court and Xu Chen has an arsenal of strokes from the back. They are improving everyday this season and this makes them the most dangerous to face. This is one pair everyone would want to avoid.