All England: Stars Set to Return from Injury
Former No.1 Sayaka Hirota is among several stars slated to return at the YONEX All England 2024 after their absence from the circuit in recent months due to injury.
· DEV SUKUMAR
Hirota’s last match was the semifinals of the Syed Modi International 2023 last December. The Japanese suffered a left knee injury during a rally at 11-9 in the opening game, after which she and Yuki Fukushima retired.
Hirota and Fukushima, who won the All England in 2020, will take on Maiken Fruergaard/Sara Thygesen in the opening round.
Another player looking to put her injury troubles behind her will be Pornpawee Chochuwong. The Thai was well placed in the rankings at the end of last year – finishing the season with a semifinals placing at the HYLO Open – but injury troubles have seen her play only two full matches this year. With her ranking sliding to No.16, and Supanida Katethong having leapt over her in the Race to Paris, Chochuwong will hope for a return to form in the European leg as the qualifying period winds down.