Kumamoto Masters: High-Profile Opening Clashes
Several heavy-duty opening round matches are set to unfold at the Kumamoto Masters Japan 2024, the penultimate tournament for qualification to the HSBC BWF World Tour Finals 2024.
· BWF STAFF
With their qualification hinging on their performances this week and the next (China Masters), several topline contenders have thrown their hats into the ring.
Among the opening clashes to look forward to are Japan Open champion Alex Lanier against No.7 seed Li Shi Feng; Hong Kong Open runner-up Lei Lan Xi against Loh Kean Yew; No.6 seed Chou Tien Chen against Brian Yang, and Denmark Open runner-up Koki Watanabe against Chico Aura Dwi Wardoyo.
Viktor Axelsen as Olympic champion is assured of qualification, but he has a potentially difficult opening opponent in Wang Tzu Wei, who beat him at the French Open earlier this year.