Badminton China Open expects Chen vs Lin clash

World champion Chen Long heads the seedings in Men's Singles in Badminton China Open held from 11 to 16 in Fuzhou, China. Fans expect to witness a possible title clash between him and former Olympic champion Lin Dan.

Lin, who skipped the French Open due to an injury he sustained in Denmark, will start against Chinese Taipei's Hsu Jen Hao. Lin might once again run into Denmark's Jan O Jorgensen in the second round. Jan has emerged victorious during their last three meetings and might sniff an opportunity to defeat the home favourite.

Apart from the regular faces like Japan's Kenichi Tago, Indonesia's Tommy Sugiarto, South Korea's Son Wan Ho, Chinese Taipei's Chou Tien Chen has shot up the rankings thanks to recent wins in World Super-series title and a Grand Prix Gold at the Bitburger Open.

India's HS Prannoy was runner-up at the Vietnam Open in early September, won the Indonesian Masters the next week, and then made the semi-finals of the Bitburger Open. He begins with a difficult apponent against Viktor Axelsen in Fuzhou event.

China hold the aces in the women's categories. Li Xuerui, Wang Shixian and Wang Yihan are the obvious favorites; and a number of their compatriots, including Liu Xin, Han Li, Bitburger Open champion Sun Yu and Yao Xue, are expected to go far in the draw.

World champion Carolina Marin returns to Super-series action after June. Spaniard Marin had a lay-off after winning the World title and returned to the circuit at the Bitburger Open in late October. Marin faces Chinese Taipei's Tai Tzu Ying in the opener.

South Korea's Sung Ji Hyun, Bae Yeon Jun, India's Saina Nehwal, Thailand's Ratchanok Intanon and Japan's Akane Yamaguchi are the other big names in the contest.

The home team have been nearly indomitable in Women's Doubles at the China Open. With pairs like Bao Yixin/Tang Jinhua, Tian Qing/Zhao Yunlei, Yu Yang/Wang Xiaoli and Luo Ying/Luo Yu, the title is likely to remain Chinese this year too.

South Korea's Lee Yong Dae/Yoo Yeon Seong and Indonesia's Mohammad Ahsan/Hendra Setiawan are favourites in Men's Doubles, while in Mixed Doubles it could be any of the top four: Zhang Nan/Zhao Yunlei; Xu Chen/Ma Jin (China); Tontowi Ahmad/Liliyana Natsir (Indonesia) or Joachim Fischer Nielsen/Christinna Pedersen (Denmark).