Tremors Hit Men’s Doubles – Day 3: TOTAL BWF World Championships 2017

Men’s Doubles contenders Li Junhui/Liu Yuchen and Goh V Shem/Tan Wee Kiong crashed out of the TOTAL BWF World Championships 2017 today to less-fancied opponents.

Top seeds Li/Liu of China ran into spirited resistance from Indonesia’s Mohammad Ahsan/Rian Agung Saputro and fell in three games, while Olympic silver medallists Goh/Tan were shot down by a young Korean pair. Chung Eui Seok/Kim Dukyoung, still relative unknowns at the elite level, ran roughshod over Goh/Tan as they closed out the second round in just 39 minutes, 21-18 21-16.

It was a session that saw the Men’s Doubles pairs in particular struggle against lesser accomplished rivals. The first match of the session gave a hint of things to come, when Ahsan and Saputro matched wits with Li and Liu. With the shuttles slow and not giving the attackers easy kills, it was a hard slog for both pairs, but Ahsan and Saputro showed they were prepared to stay in the rallies. The Indonesians defended brilliantly; counter-attacking with sudden flicks and drives and catching their opponents at the far corners.

Two match points missed, the Indonesians celebrated when the shuttle hit the tape and died on their opponents’ side, giving them a 19-21 21-18 21-18 victory.

“We were confident of beating them, we had nothing to lose,” said Ahsan. “We tried to enjoy our time on court as the pressure was on them.”

Asked if defending his crown was on his mind (he won the last World Championships with a different partner, Hendra Setiawan), Ahsan said: “Well, I’m aware that I’m defending the title but I want to stay humble and play my best with my new partner.”

Malaysians Goh and Tan’s below-par season continued as they failed to step up to the occasion and turned in a listless performance against a Korean pair that hasn’t had much to show in their short career, but for a semi-final at the Jeju Victor Korea Masters last December.

Chung and Kim led from start to finish – at no stage did the Malaysians hold a lead or catch up with them. The upset gave the Koreans a third round place against Olympic bronze medallists Chris Langridge/Marcus Ellis – 21-15 21-10 winners over Austria’s Dominik Stipsits/Roman Zirnwald.

No.4 seeds Takeshi Kamura/Keigo Sonoda (Japan), No.6 seeds Chai Biao/Hong Wei (China) and No.3 seeds Marcus Fernaldi Gideon/Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo (Indonesia) also dropped a game each in their second round encounters.

Lin Stretched by Holst

Also dropping a game was five-time Men’s Singles champion Lin Dan, who was required to dig deep to overcome battling Dane Emil Holst 19-21 21-8 21-16.

Holst showed patience in countering the crafty gameplay of Lin, who chose to rely on a rallying game with control and precision rather than blistering attack. The lanky Dane caught Lin off-guard with some big smashes, and at a game apiece and 16-all in the third, there might have been many in the audience who wondered if the fate that befell Lee Chong Wei yesterday would claim Lin.

However, the No.7 seed timed his burst at the right time; the sudden cross-court smashes caught Holst by surprise, and eventually he made it home with a fair cushion.

“I’m very happy to pull off the win,” said Lin. “He’s tall and powerful and he gave me a lot of trouble. He beat me at the German Open this year, so I’m happy to reverse the result. Even though it was a long match, I should be okay for the next round since we prepared quite well.”

In the same half, India’s Kidambi Srikanth, Denmark’s Anders Antonsen, China’s Shi Yuqi and Hong Kong’s Wong Wing Ki made their way ahead with varying levels of difficulty.

Wong survived three match points against Japan’s Kanta Tsuneyama, prevailing in the closest match of the opening session, 21-23 21-15 26-24, in 84 minutes.

Shi Yuqi overcame trouble from Brazil’s Ygor Coelho de Oliveira, completing his victory in three games, 21-17 21-23 21-10. His compatriot, defending champion Chen Long, breezed past Indonesian veteran Sony Dwi Kuncoro.

OUE Singapore Open champion Sai Praneeth, in the bottom half, might say a prayer of thanks for his Indonesian opponent Anthony Ginting, who blew an 18-12 lead in the third and virtually gifted the match to the Indian.

The Indonesian froze with the end in sight, and the Indian happily made his way back, claiming eight straight points before the hapless Ginting made a feeble attempt to stem the tide. Praneeth completed the escape act at 14-21 21-18 21-19 and will await the winner between Germany’s Marc Zwiebler and Chinese Taipei’s Chou Tien Chen.

In Women’s Singles, the big names – Nozomi Okuhara (Japan), Saina Nehwal (India), Sung Ji Hyun (Korea) and He Bingjiao (China) – enjoyed relatively easy wins.

There were no surprises in Women’s Doubles either, with No.5 seeds Jung Kyung Eun/Shin Seung Chan (Korea), No.8 seeds Luo Ying/Luo Yu (China) and No.10 seeds Naoko Fukuman/Kurumi Yonao (Japan) progressing in straight games.

For results, click here

World Championships News

BWF Permits Participation of Neutral Athletes from Russia and Belarus

BWF Permits Participation of Neutral Athletes from Russia and Belarus

29 August 2023
Wrap: Great Matches – TOTAL BWF World Championships 2017

Wrap: Great Matches – TOTAL BWF World Championships 2017

29 August 2017
Okuhara Prevails in Epic – Singles Finals: TOTAL BWF World Championships 2017

Okuhara Prevails in Epic – Singles Finals: TOTAL BWF World Championships 2017

28 August 2017
‘Four’ Sure! – Doubles Finals: TOTAL BWF World Championships 2017

‘Four’ Sure! – Doubles Finals: TOTAL BWF World Championships 2017

27 August 2017
Lin in Seventh Final – Semi-Finals: TOTAL BWF World Championships 2017

Lin in Seventh Final – Semi-Finals: TOTAL BWF World Championships 2017

27 August 2017
‘Axel-lent’ Job! – Semi-Finals: TOTAL BWF World Championships 2017

‘Axel-lent’ Job! – Semi-Finals: TOTAL BWF World Championships 2017

26 August 2017
Queen Carolina Dethroned – Day 5: TOTAL BWF World Championships 2017

Queen Carolina Dethroned – Day 5: TOTAL BWF World Championships 2017

26 August 2017
Hong Kong’s Doubles Delight – Day 5: TOTAL BWF World Championships 2017

Hong Kong’s Doubles Delight – Day 5: TOTAL BWF World Championships 2017

25 August 2017
Chung/Kim Stay in Hunt – Day 4: TOTAL BWF World Championships 2017

Chung/Kim Stay in Hunt – Day 4: TOTAL BWF World Championships 2017

25 August 2017
Top Seed Tumbles – Day 4: TOTAL BWF World Championships 2017

Top Seed Tumbles – Day 4: TOTAL BWF World Championships 2017

24 August 2017
Mama Mia – Europe’s Hopes Rise!  – Day 3: TOTAL BWF World Championships 2017

Mama Mia – Europe’s Hopes Rise! – Day 3: TOTAL BWF World...

23 August 2017
Singles Seeds Stumble – Day 2: TOTAL BWF World Championships 2017

Singles Seeds Stumble – Day 2: TOTAL BWF World Championships 2017

22 August 2017
Lee Stunned in Opening Round – Day 2: TOTAL BWF World Championships 2017

Lee Stunned in Opening Round – Day 2: TOTAL BWF World Championships...

22 August 2017
No Mercy for Merrilees – Day 1: TOTAL BWF World Championships 2017

No Mercy for Merrilees – Day 1: TOTAL BWF World Championships 2017

21 August 2017
Bumpy Start for Michelle Li – DAY 1: TOTAL BWF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS 2017

Bumpy Start for Michelle Li – DAY 1: TOTAL BWF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS...

21 August 2017
Ready for Liftoff!

Ready for Liftoff!

21 August 2017
Ahmad/Natsir Brimming With Confidence

Ahmad/Natsir Brimming With Confidence

20 August 2017
Marin Lays it On the Line

Marin Lays it On the Line

20 August 2017
Twist in the Script? – Men’s Singles Preview

Twist in the Script? – Men’s Singles Preview

20 August 2017
Welcome to Glasgow!

Welcome to Glasgow!

19 August 2017
Too Close to Call – Women’s Singles Preview

Too Close to Call – Women’s Singles Preview

18 August 2017
Energy Versus Guile – Men’s Doubles Preview

Energy Versus Guile – Men’s Doubles Preview

16 August 2017
Japan Have the Edge – Women’s Doubles Preview

Japan Have the Edge – Women’s Doubles Preview

14 August 2017
Form Favours China – Mixed Doubles Preview

Form Favours China – Mixed Doubles Preview

12 August 2017
‘Worlds’ Blockbuster On The Cards

‘Worlds’ Blockbuster On The Cards

9 August 2017
Son, Yamaguchi Top-Seeded for Worlds

Son, Yamaguchi Top-Seeded for Worlds

6 August 2017
Son Has Tail Up with No.1 Ranking

Son Has Tail Up with No.1 Ranking

2 August 2017
Injury Dashes Jorgensen’s Hopes

Injury Dashes Jorgensen’s Hopes

1 August 2017
12BET an Official Partner of World Championships

12BET an Official Partner of World Championships

24 July 2017
China Ace Qualification for Worlds

China Ace Qualification for Worlds

21 July 2017
Thomas Composes a World Championships Winner

Thomas Composes a World Championships Winner

7 July 2017
Li Xuerui’s Hopes Alive for Worlds

Li Xuerui’s Hopes Alive for Worlds

9 June 2017
Tan Kim Her for World Coaching Conference

Tan Kim Her for World Coaching Conference

17 May 2017
Top Guns Confirm Places

Top Guns Confirm Places

16 May 2017
Chen Long Gets ‘Worlds’ Wild Card

Chen Long Gets ‘Worlds’ Wild Card

4 May 2017
Chen Long’s Fate in the Balance

Chen Long’s Fate in the Balance

28 April 2017
Lin Dan Stakes Glasgow Claim

Lin Dan Stakes Glasgow Claim

20 April 2017
Jorgensen, Tai Lead Race to Glasgow

Jorgensen, Tai Lead Race to Glasgow

24 February 2017
Badminton ‘Worlds’ Going to Glasgow in 2017

Badminton ‘Worlds’ Going to Glasgow in 2017

14 November 2014
PARTNERS