Preview: An Even Field in Men’s Doubles
With the HSBC BWF World Tour Finals 2022 set to begin on Wednesday in Bangkok, here are some of the striking features of each category:
· DEV SUKUMAR
While all five categories are competitive, the field in women’s singles stands out, with four previous season finale winners – Tai Tzu Ying (2014, 2017, 2020), Chen Yu Fei (2019), An Se Young (2021) and Akane Yamaguchi (2016). The others are no mean achievers either – He Bing Jiao had possibly the best year of her career with four titles; Ratchanok Intanon was consistent as always, while both Busanan Ongbamrungphan and Gregoria Mariska Tunjung will be tricky opponents for higher-rated opponents.
Of the five categories, men’s doubles appears to be the most evenly-matched, with not much separating the eight pairs. Although Fajar Alfian/Muhammad Rian Ardianto, given that they won four titles this season, can be considered slight favourites, this is a field in which any one of the eight pairs could finish winners.
Meanwhile, Hendra Setiawan, seeded second with Mohammad Ahsan, continues on his remarkable journey – the Indonesian had featured in the very first finale of the Superseries era – the BWF Super Series Masters Finals in 2008 – with then-partner Markis Kido.
- Tai Tzu Ying
- Chen Yu Fei
- An Se Young
- Akane Yamaguchi
- He Bing Jiao
- Ratchanok Intanon
- Fajar Alfian
- Muhammad Rian Ardianto
- Hendra Setiawan
- Mohammad Ahsan
- Apriyani Rahayu
- Siti Fadia Silva Ramadhanti
- Viktor Axelsen
- Loh Kean Yew
- Prannoy H. S.
- Zheng Si Wei
- Huang Ya Qiong
- Dechapol Puavaranukroh
- Sapsiree Taerattanachai
- Wang Yi Lyu
- Huang Dong Ping