China’s Uber Cup dominance might come to an end this year.
It was virtually an empty Putra Stadium in Kuala Lumpur on the final day of the 2010 Uber Cup, the women’s team competition for badminton. China, the mighty champion and six-times defending champion at that point were one step closer to once again defend their title. Standing on their way was the Koreans. A stadium with a capacity of 15,000 spectators only had a few hundred in the crowd. Perhaps a sign of confidence among badminton fans that China was without a doubt going to secure the title.
China filled their strongest lineup led by then world no.1s - Wang Yihan in singles, and Ma Jin - Wang Xiaoli in doubles. They also had 2008 Olympic Women Doubles Champions, Du Jing - Yu Yang lining up as their second doubles pairing. On paper, the Koreans have virtually no shot of even winning one match, let alone winning three to win the tie. Koreans ultimately decided to split up their top two women doubles pairing, partnering the experienced and Olympic Champion - Lee Hyo Jung with the least experienced of the four players - Kim Min Jung as the first doubles, and partnering Hyo Jung’s original partner - Lee Kyung-Won with Ha Jung Eun, a player with extensive experience in mixed doubles.
It was a gamble that paid off. The Koreans beat the Chinese 3-1 in the final, creating possibly one of the biggest upset in the history of badminton. Both China’s world no.1s succumbed to the pressure, losing both the first two matches. Despite Wang Xin’s (the second singles) effort to win back a match for the Chinese, the Koreans ultimately sealed the deal when Yu Yang hitted her forehand drop shot into the net, giving the Koreans their first ever Uber Cup title.
With two weeks away from the Uber Cup, there are signs that Japan might be the team to unseat the dominance of China in the event. Aside from the shocking defeat in 2010, the last time China failed to win the Uber Cup was way back in 1998. While the Koreans have a huge degree of luck on their side six years ago, this Japanese team is an all-around and well-balanced team with unquestionably talented players on their team.
Listing out the lineup from both teams in the best of five matches format in Uber Cup, no teams have a significant advantage in any of the five matches. But the most crucial and important matches are the first women’s doubles match and the second women’s singles match. Both players and pairs have split their wins in their previous matches. Should both countries’ coaching team stick with sending players with the highest possible world ranking to play these matches, these two matches could be the decider on the outcome of the Uber Cup.
The Japanese also have a relative young squad for this year’s Uber Cup. Nozomi Okuhara, the newly crowned All-England Champion is only 21 years old. Other young players in the team include Akane Yamaguchi (18), Kurumi Yonao (23), Naoko Fukuman (24) and Misaki Matsutomo (24) are all ranked inside the top 10 in the world. While the oldest player in the starting lineup is Ayaka Takahashi at only 26 years old. With a young team in place, Japan could prove to be a destructive force in women’s team badminton competition for many years to come.
The depth of the Japanese team is simply staggering. Aside from the three women’s singles players listed above, Japan also have two other women’s singles players - Yui Hashimoto (World no.18, 26 years) and Minatsu Mitani (World no.19, 24 years old) which are ranked inside the top 20 in the world. While in women’s doubles, Japan has veterans Shizuka Matsuo and Mami Naito ranked inside the top 10, a pair that might be picked as the second women’s doubles pairing due to their extensive experience, having played in the previous three Uber Cup tournaments.
But before the tournament starts, China will have an edge over Japan - the home crowd. As this year’s tournament will be hosted in China, do expect huge support for the home team from the local fans.
It is clear that Japan will be the main and biggest challenger to China’s dominance at future Uber Cup tournaments including this year’s. While the men’s team will have a hard time defending their Thomas Cup title after suffering a series of disciplinary problems with their players, the women’s team are fully expected to perform well and possibly bringing home their first Uber Cup since 1981.
China filled their strongest lineup led by then world no.1s - Wang Yihan in singles, and Ma Jin - Wang Xiaoli in doubles. They also had 2008 Olympic Women Doubles Champions, Du Jing - Yu Yang lining up as their second doubles pairing. On paper, the Koreans have virtually no shot of even winning one match, let alone winning three to win the tie. Koreans ultimately decided to split up their top two women doubles pairing, partnering the experienced and Olympic Champion - Lee Hyo Jung with the least experienced of the four players - Kim Min Jung as the first doubles, and partnering Hyo Jung’s original partner - Lee Kyung-Won with Ha Jung Eun, a player with extensive experience in mixed doubles.
It was a gamble that paid off. The Koreans beat the Chinese 3-1 in the final, creating possibly one of the biggest upset in the history of badminton. Both China’s world no.1s succumbed to the pressure, losing both the first two matches. Despite Wang Xin’s (the second singles) effort to win back a match for the Chinese, the Koreans ultimately sealed the deal when Yu Yang hitted her forehand drop shot into the net, giving the Koreans their first ever Uber Cup title.
With two weeks away from the Uber Cup, there are signs that Japan might be the team to unseat the dominance of China in the event. Aside from the shocking defeat in 2010, the last time China failed to win the Uber Cup was way back in 1998. While the Koreans have a huge degree of luck on their side six years ago, this Japanese team is an all-around and well-balanced team with unquestionably talented players on their team.
Listing out the lineup from both teams in the best of five matches format in Uber Cup, no teams have a significant advantage in any of the five matches. But the most crucial and important matches are the first women’s doubles match and the second women’s singles match. Both players and pairs have split their wins in their previous matches. Should both countries’ coaching team stick with sending players with the highest possible world ranking to play these matches, these two matches could be the decider on the outcome of the Uber Cup.
| CHINA | H2H | JAPAN | |
| WS1 |
Li Xuerui (3)
|
2-1
|
Nozomi Okuhara (4)
|
| WD1 |
Tang Yuanting - Yu Yang (3)
|
2-2
|
Misaki Matsutomo - Ayaka Takahashi (1)
|
| WS2 |
Wang Shixian (5)
|
2-2
|
Akane Yamaguchi (11)
|
| WD2 |
Tian Qing - Zhao Yunlei (4)
|
1-0
|
Naoko Fukuman - Kurumi Yonao (9)
|
| WS3 |
Wang Yihan (6)
|
1-0
|
Sayaka Sato (14)
|
*( ) indicates world ranking
The Japanese also have a relative young squad for this year’s Uber Cup. Nozomi Okuhara, the newly crowned All-England Champion is only 21 years old. Other young players in the team include Akane Yamaguchi (18), Kurumi Yonao (23), Naoko Fukuman (24) and Misaki Matsutomo (24) are all ranked inside the top 10 in the world. While the oldest player in the starting lineup is Ayaka Takahashi at only 26 years old. With a young team in place, Japan could prove to be a destructive force in women’s team badminton competition for many years to come.
The depth of the Japanese team is simply staggering. Aside from the three women’s singles players listed above, Japan also have two other women’s singles players - Yui Hashimoto (World no.18, 26 years) and Minatsu Mitani (World no.19, 24 years old) which are ranked inside the top 20 in the world. While in women’s doubles, Japan has veterans Shizuka Matsuo and Mami Naito ranked inside the top 10, a pair that might be picked as the second women’s doubles pairing due to their extensive experience, having played in the previous three Uber Cup tournaments.
But before the tournament starts, China will have an edge over Japan - the home crowd. As this year’s tournament will be hosted in China, do expect huge support for the home team from the local fans.
It is clear that Japan will be the main and biggest challenger to China’s dominance at future Uber Cup tournaments including this year’s. While the men’s team will have a hard time defending their Thomas Cup title after suffering a series of disciplinary problems with their players, the women’s team are fully expected to perform well and possibly bringing home their first Uber Cup since 1981.
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