The HSBC BWF World Tour Finals 2019 are commencing tomorrow in Guangzhou, China.
There will be two round-robin groups of four, with the top two pairs proceeding to the semifinals. Here is a preview of the doubles group stages.
In the men’s doubles, the groups have been drawn as follows:
Group A
Marcus Gideon and Kevin Sukamuljo (INA)
Takeshi Kamura and Keigo Sonoda (JPN)
Li Junhui and Liu Yuchen (CHN)
Hiroyuki Endo and Yuta Watanabe (JPN)
Group B
Mohammad Ahsan and Hendra Setiawan (INA)
Lee Yang and Wang Chi-Lin (TPE)
Lu Ching Yao and Yang Po Han (TPE)
Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik (MAS)
Top seeds Marcus Gideon and Kevin Sukamuljo have drawn defending champions Li Jun Hui and Liu Yu Chen. Since last year’s World Tour Finals loss, the Indonesians have defeated the Chinese pair twice this year. Also, in the group are Asian champions Hiroyuki Endo and Yuta Watanabe along with their Japanese teammates Takeshi Kamura and Keigo Sonoda.
World champions Mohammad Ahsan and Hendra Setiawan in group B will have to battle with two Taiwanese pairs in Lee Yang and Wang Chi-Lin, and Lu Ching Yao and Yang Po Han. As well as Malaysia’s Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik, who recently achieved there first win over the Indonesians at the Fuzhou China Open.
Women’s doubles
In the women’s doubles, the groups have been drawn as follows:
Group A
Yuki Fukushima and Sayaka Hirota (JPN)
Chen Qing Chen and Jia Yifan (CHN)
Greysia Polii and Apriyani Rahayu (INA)
Du Yue and Li Yinhui (CHN)
Group B
Mayu Matsumoto and Wakana Nagahara (JPN)
Kim So Yeong and Kong Hee Yong (KOR)
Lee So Hee and Shin Seung Chan (KOR)
Jongkolphan Kititharakul and Rawinda Prajongjai (THA)
In group A, the world championship silver medallists, Yuki Fukushima and Sayaka Hirota have drawn China’s 2019 All England and China Open champions, Chen Qing Chen and Jia Yifan. They have played six times in 2019, with the head to head being 4-2 in Japan’s favour.
World champions Mayu Matsumoto and Wakana Nagahara are grouped with the winners of the most improved award, Kim So Yeong and Kong Hee Yong from Korea. Kim and Kong have been victorious in the last three encounters this year and will be looking for the same in Guangzhou.
Mixed doubles
In the mixed doubles, the groups have been drawn as follows:
Group A
Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Sapsiree Taerattanachai (THA)
Wang Yi Lyu and Huang Dong Ping (CHN)
Chan Peng Soon and Goh Liu Ying (MAS)
Seo Seung Jae and Chae YuJung (KOR)
Group B
Zheng Si Wei and Huang Ya Qiong (CHN)
Praveen Jordan and Melati Oktavianti (INA)
Yuta Watanabe and Arisa Higashino (JPN)
Hafiz Faizal and Gloria Widjaja (INA)
Defending mixed doubles champions, Wang Yi Lyu and Huang Dong Ping, have been drawn with top seeds Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Sapsiree Taerattanachai, who defeated them at the World Championships. However, Wang and Huang have been able to take victory in their three other encounters this year.
The world number ones Zheng Si Wei and Huang Ya Qiong have won the World Championships and all three Super 1000 titles this year and can claim a calendar ‘Super Grand Slam’ if they add the HSBC BWF World Tour Finals trophy to their collection. In their group B, they face pairs who have beaten them at least once.
For the full groups and fixtures list, click here.