The women’s doubles is equally up in the air as the men’s doubles. All the top pairs can beat each other with some partner changes as well. The Malaysia Open saw an unseeded pair also take the title. Fukushima and Matsumoto of Japan, a new partnership getting off to a great start.
The Malaysian Open champions have a great chance to go back-to-back in India. A favourable draw against the Polish WR 68 is likely followed by Indian Olympians Crasto and Ponnappa. We would say this is an easy draw for the in-form pair. The momentum they have from the Malaysia Open will give them more confidence to perform again.
The Chinese fourth seeds look good, Li and Luo of China. They reached the semi-final last week in the Malaysia Open only beaten by the eventual winners from Japan. They have a good draw in Malaysia with some straightforward matches to the semi-final where they would likely face compatriots Liu and Tan. The two pairs faced off 5 times last year with TAN/LIU taking the H2H 4-1. For us Li and Luo could take a step to balance that out again as we saw TAN/LIU beaten by another Chinese pair in the Malaysia Open semi-final.
A repeat of our Women’s doubles call in Malaysia, we think BAEK and LEE have a better opportunity in India. A great opportunity for fairly easy first and second-round matches will give them time to grow into the India Open. In Malaysia, they were beaten by the eventual winners from Japan. This time we can see them going all the way and getting payback in the semi-finals, where they can avenge their defeat.
So where would our money be going? LI and LUO of China.
How do the Indian pairs fair?
With 9 pairs in the draw, India has very strong representation in Delhi. The key question is whether any of them can actually win the title. let’s start with the highest-ranked pair, Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand Pullela, who are the 9th-ranked doubles pair in the world. They are still recovering from their disappointment from not qualifying for the Olympics in Paris last year, which was mainly due to injuries. Since the Olympics, they have been a little underwhelming. One title at the Syed Modi 300 and one semi-final finish at the Macau Open. These were balanced out by multiple first-round exits in the stronger tournaments. Playing in front of a home crowd could be the boost they need to get back on track but we doubt they will progress very far. The first and second rounds are very winnable for them. We think the quarterfinal will be too tough though.
Ashwini Ponnappa & Tanisha Crasto
The Indian Olympians who beat the top-ranked pair to the qualification spot is Ashwini Ponnappa and Tanisha Crasto. Since their disappointing performance in the Summer Olympics, this pair have been very quiet. A late-year outing in India saw them rewarded with a 100 title and a good 300 semi-final performance. There are plenty of rumours about Ponnappa retiring considering she is 35 and Tanisha has taken up a mixed doubles partnership which could indicate the partnership will end sooner rather than later. In Delhi they have a promising draw. Fellow Indians Gupta and Sharma will be swept aside only to face the winners of the Malaysia Open in the second round. A short but sweet outing for them in this one is our call.
Rutaparna & Swetaparna Panda
The only other real chance for India is the Panda sisters who sit at 38 on the world rankings. Over the past few years, they had one-off highlights but never put a consistent run together. They are not young hot shots anymore as Rutaparna is 25 but her sister Swetaparna is only 19. They need to start performing or their dreams will be gone quickly. Results from 2024 are mainly first-round exits for the world tour events. They do well at Challenge events, will that be their level? We can see them reaching the second round in Delhi but a swift loss awaits them in the R16.
The emerging talent?
The other pairs, the Gahlawat sisters, Pramuthesh and Singh, Gupta and Sharma, Alvekar and Deshpande & the Rawat sisters will all face first-round losses. This will be a good experience for them at a top-level event. None of these pairs have shown anything last season which suggests they will be able to over come the odds. Maybe the home crowd can push them to new heights. We don’t think it’s likely. There is an outside chance for Bhat K and Gautam. They are drawn against the Canadians Crystal Lai and Jackie Dent who we see as a similar level. This could be a great match for experience with a 50/50 chance of going through, they won’t get further though with a likely R16 match against Li and Luo of China.
For the crowd favourites there is little chance of a podium finish, our prediction would indicate a quarter-final at best for the home players.
Last year’s winners of the India Open men’s doubles have changed partners, will they be able to make an impact with their new partners or will we see some local success with Rankireddy and Shetty?
The top prospects…
Seung Jae SEO is now partnered with Won Ho Kim who had an incredible Malaysia Open winning the title as an unseeded pair! His former partner Min Hyuk Kang now plays alongside Yong Jin. They had a much worse result in Malaysia with a second-round exit to the local pair ONG and TEO. In India Kang and Jin will have a tough fight against the Danish first seeds in the first round, it’s unlikely they will progress from that match. We feel Kim and SEO are a much better bet for the title.
Only half of the seeded pairs even progressed from the first round in Malaysia. We think something similar could happen in India as the competition is currently quite even. On their day any pair could win which makes it the most exciting category to watch right now for us.
The Danish first seeds Kim and Astrup fell in the first round in Kuala Lumpur. If they get out of the first round in India they would probably face the same Chinese Taipei pair again in the second round. This smells like the start of a spicy rivalry to us!
The Hometown favourites in Delhi?
The hometown boys Rankireddy and Shetty have a good draw in India. They fell at the SF in Malaysia taking a few good wins. We expect the Indians to do well in Delhi as they have avoided the most dangerous pairs in their draw.
The unseeded Chinese pair, Chen and Liu, featured in the Malaysia Open final. They are drawn against compatriots Xie and Zeng in the India Open first round. A tricky match but they have the upper hand on H2H. The chances are very high that they meet ranked or in form pairs getting to the final if they can win. We think it will be too much for them to repeat Malaysia in a tougher draw.
The other Chinese pairs really disappointed in Malaysia. This could easily happen again in India.
Goh and Izzuddin were beaten badly in the first round of the Malaysia Open by the unseeded Danes Lundgaard and Vestergaard. India should be the opportunity they need to put that right. They have the most favourable draw from all of the Malaysian pairs. They should meet the LEE brothers of Taipei in the Quarter-final.
Having said all this we need to pick a favourite to lift the India Open title. OUR MONEY IS ON RANKIREDDY AND SHETTY!
Our outside favourites at the India Open!
We are always hoping a relatively unknown or ignored pair can shake things up. The Men’s doubles will be no different in India.
The Lee brothers from Taipei had a promising Malaysia open going under the radar. They were knocked out in the QF by the winners KIM and SEO. They could have another good tournament with their draw against fellow Taipei pair LEE and YANG. We expect that will be followed by LIU and YANG in the second round. They should be familiar with their compatriots and have an edge to proceed beyond their Malaysia Open result.
The India Open Men’s singles draw is missing three stars and one local hopeful. Anders Antonsen and Shi Yu Qi are both missing in India after their final in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday. Lee Zi Jia is still out with his ankle injury, and Anthony Ginting, who picked up a hand injury, is also out. Srikanth Kidambi and Kiran George have been called up from the reserves.
This has moved the draw around significantly.
Vitidsarn, previously the fourth seed is moved to the first seed placement. This has created a re-run of the Malaysia open first round Alex Lanier vs Kunlavut Vitidsarn. Our pick for a rivalry coming true quicker than we imagined. The European players have a strong compulsion for revenge. At least it is more obvious to see on court with the likes of Mia Blichfeldt, Carolina Marin, and Anders Antonsen openly showing displeasure and aggression on court. This will be the case here in India. Alex Lanier will want revenge, especially from such a close match in Malaysia. We think he will get it!
Second seed Jonatan Christie will want revenge for his first-round exit to Toma jr Popov at the Malaysia Open. Christie has quite a favourable draw to the semi-final where he would likely face Axelsen. Axelsen himself will want to put the Malaysia open behind him after a similar first-round loss to Cheuk Yiu Lee. Many are putting that down to fatigue and jet lag caused by Axelsen’s late arrival in Kuala Lumpur. Which of these heavy hitters will deal best with the set-back from last week?
The other seeds in India do not inspire confidence. Kodai Naraoka showed promise in the Malaysia Open last week, reaching the semi-final. We can see him making the quarter-final in India where he will likely be knocked out by Viktor Axelsen who has a 6-0 H2H against him.
The fifth seed, Li Shi Feng of China, will face Leong Jun Hao of Malaysia in the first round. Shi Feng has a 4-0 H2H over his Malay opposition. The only question is whether he has recovered from his Semifinal run in Kuala Lumpur or whether the recent progress of Leong Jun Hao is enough to turn the tide. Even if he does get past Jun Hao we feel he will be stopped in the quarter-final by a charged-up Alex Lanier.
Chou Tiou Chen is the final seed in India. A first-round draw against Brian Yang isn’t easy but Chou’s 6-1 H2H speaks volumes. His route to the semi-final is straightforward. We would expect to see him there. He did lift the Arctic Open title last year so does have recent success. It will hugely depend on who he meets in the semifinal and final. A final against Christie, my money is on Chou, a final against Axelsen my money is on the Dane.
My money goes on Viktor Axelsen to put his mistake in Kuala Lumur right and lift the title in Delhi!
An outside favourite for winning India Open 2025?
There are a few options for one’s to watch in the men’s singles draw, players that can overachieve or surprise people. Lanier will want to repay Vitidsarn for his loss in Kuala Lumpur to even up the H2H. Alex Lanier is capable and will have a new game plan after their first match in Kuala Lumpur. We can see Alex Lanier going to the semis here in India which would be a great overachievement for his ranking.
Toma Jr Popov could also have a good run here in the easier top half of the draw. He played well in the Malaysia Open but couldn’t follow up his win against Christie, losing in the 2nd round. He will be eagre to put that right in India.
Chiuk Yu Lee had the biggest upset in Kuala Lumpur beating Axelsen, was that brilliance from Lee or just a bad day for Viktor? He will also want to show it was his brilliance that gave him that victory and made Viktor look so poor.
Jun Hao Leong would be the other player to look at. A strong finish to 2024 with a finals defeat at the Kumamoto Masters in Japan and wins over top 15 players. He has an opportunity while Lee Zi Jia is out injured to become the front man for Malaysian badminton. He had a poor performance in Kuala Lumpur but many Malayisa players can’t deal well with the home town pressure. Galhi is where his season starts.
My pick for an outside favourite would be Toma jr Popov. He is gaining momentum under the guidance of his father. Their training group are having some good success now which we think will breed more success.
Home town favourites at the India Open 2025?
We are still waiting for one of the Indian players to really make an impact on the tour. HS Prannoy has been the top Indian player but was outshone by Sen Lakshya at the Paris Olympics. Since then Prannoy hasn’t played any event. Lakshya has only won a weak 300 event, the Syed Modi, with a quarter final finish the only other highlight at the China Masters. The only top player Lakshya beat in this time was Lee Zi Jia, for a player that wants to be number one and winning titles that isn’t good enough.
The young hopeful Priyanshu Rajawat has performed similarly poorly. A 3rd placed finish at the Syed Modi is the unfortunate highlight alongside a 3rd place finish at the Canadian Open, pre-Olympics. He did have a good win against Anders Antonsen but he more commonly loses in the R32 in the main tour events.
2025 is just getting started. Already the first HSBC world tour event is getting underway, the Malaysia Open! Starting on the 7th of January this will be the first glimpse of the top players in 2025. Can KL start the season off with a bang?
We think so!
Who will be crowned champions at the Malaysia Open?
In men’s singles the top 4 seeds are Shi Yuqi, Anders Antonsen, Jonatan Christie, and Viktor Axelsen. The current top 4 in the world ranking. These players all had a strong 2024 but have something to prove this year.
Shi Yuqi ranked number 1 but is losing 9-3 on H2H to Viktor. Can he prove he is better than the Dane? Does Viktor still have the hunger to grind out 3 set victories? Will Christie ever be consistent? A great Asia champs and All-England title but terrible Olympics and many ‘nearly’ victories. Can Anders stay fit, retain his title, and claim the top Danish player spot?
This is the first tour event since the somewhat controversial world tour finals. Lee Zi Jia stood out but withdrew with an injury. Zi Jia looked like a serious contender to win the tour finals. Now it has been announced he will not compete in KL so could compatriot Leong Jun Hao take the crown on home soil?
There are a few hot players flying under the radar. Alex Lanier of France claimed victories over all the top players in 2024. Vitidsarn who is still the reigning World Champion and Olympic silver medallist. Kodai Nareoka will want to avenge his poor performance at the world tour finals in December.
The past 3 winners of the tournament have all been Danish players, Anders Antonsen in 2024 and Viktor in 2023 and 2022. Some players favor certain competitions and I think that is the case for Anders in Malaysia. Not to mention he arrived a week early in Malayisa for extra training. He seems ready to go. My $10 bet is on Anders Antonsen to retain the Malaysia Open!!
Oliver Shepherd predicts An Se Young to win the Malaysia Open 2025
The women’s singles sees An Se Young, Wang Zhi Yi, Han Yue and Gregoria Tunjung placed as the top seeds. The absence of Akane Yamaguchi (calf injury) and Chen Yufei (retiring?) is a blow. The two Chinese stars dominated the world tour finals with an all-Chinese final. They also beat An Se Young and Tunjung in the process, could this be an example of what is to come this season? An Se Young has been living out her own Kdrama since the Olympics. Can she stay focused and has her training been sufficient?
The break through player of 2024, Japan’s Tomoka Miyazaki, will have a chip on her shoulder as the 18 year old was the almost girl so often in the second half of last season. She needs to prove she can beat the top players and this could be the best time to do it! Could Mia Blichfeldt continue her renaissance under the Popov coaching regime and claim victory?
Thai Star Ratchanok Intanon has been somewhat forgotten in the past few years. At the end of last season, she had some great 3 set matches with An Se Young and beat the top 5 players. Could she remind everyone why she should be feared?
While it is fun to think an underestimated player could surprise us all, the reality says there is a big gap between the top players and the chasing pack. My pick is An Se Young to retain her Malaysia Open title, An Se Young is too strong, $10 on the Korean.
Mens doubles
Wei Keng Liang and Chang Wang are the reigning Malaysia Open champions from 2024. Seeded 2nd this year gives them a great opportunity to retain their title. They are joined by Astrup and Rasmussen of Denmark as first seeds, Home favourites Goh and Izzuddin and Alfian and Ardianto of Indonesia. Astrup and Rasmussen are getting older but still have a tight grip on the top spot winning the tour finals in December.
Goh and Izzuddin have a point to prove, winning 3 titles in 2024 including the China Masters. They are still tied in a fight with Compatriots Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik for top spot in Malaysia. Will that pressure help or hinder them?
Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Rian Ardianto had a disappointing year by their standards. They missed out on Olympic glory in Paris but were able to pick up the All-England crown and Kumamoto 500 title in Japan. They have already proven themselves but are seeing younger Indonesian pairs starting to chase them down. Can they hold them off?
There are some outsiders with a chance like the Indian pair Rankireddy and Shetty. Former number ones but now without Boe as their head coach they have dropped down the rankings. Could they start a comeback in Malaysia? The Chinese pair of He Ji Ting and Ren Xiang Yu have shown great form over the last year. They have a good shot at some upsets in Malaysia. They won the Singapore Open and lost the China Open final last year so they can do it on the biggest stage.
Men’s doubles is definitely the category Malaysia have the best chance of success with two seeded entries and four unseeded!
So my pick is Fifth seeds Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik to be crowned Malaysia Open Champions. $10 on them for the win!!!
Womens Doubles
The first thing to note about the Women’s doubles is the amount of top pairs missing from this competition, 4 of the top 10 and 9 of the top 20 pairs aren’t competing. There are a lot of new partnerships though so this could provide us with some interesting results!
Top seeds in Malaysia are Liu Sheng Shu and Tan Ning of China. They are joined by Beak Ha Na and Lee So Hee of Korea, Pearly Tan and Thinaah Muralitharan on home ground and compatriots Li Yi Jing and Luo Xu Min.
Pearly and Thinaah had a good season in 2024 but their trophy cabinet is still relatively empty. Three finals last year and 1 title is off the pace of the other top pairs above them. They will be encouraged by the home fans in KL and could really cause an upset, can they deal with the pressure?
Liu and Tan are undoubtly the best womens doubles pair in the world currently. In 2024 alone they picked up 3 top titles. They would have expected to bring back the gold for China at the Olympics as well but fell to compatriots Li and Luo in the final. Liu and Tan will be eager to show why they are number one and maintain their top spot. Li and Luo likewise will want to prove themselves again to ensure no one think that Olympic title had any luck about it.
There are some outside shouts for victory to consider. The Aimsaard sisters from Thailand could be a problem. They have had injury set backs over the past few seasons which has stopped them from competing. Hopefully they can be back to their best in 2025. Kim Hye Jeong and Kong hee Yong could also have a good competition. The new pair will be out to continue their good start two quarter finals and 1 title already secured. They will be a pair to avoid for the seeds.
Last season was disappointing for Jolly and Pullela of india. Injury problems affected Olympic preparation resulting in missing out on the games as well as affecting their performances on the tour. You can be assured they will want to show everyone they are back to their best.
The winners? In my book, you can’t look past the classy Koreans Beak Ha Na and Lee So Hee. So confident on the court, they had a disappointing Olympics last year but still took home four titles, including the tour finals in December. This is where my money goes!
Mixed Doubles
The mixed doubles seeding is heavily dominated by China. Even with the Olympic champion and tour finals winners retiring they still occupy the top two ranking places. Complete domination from China. This is compounded by 6 of the top 10 pairs not competing in Malaysia. That will make it even more likely for a Chinese full sweep.
The top two seeds are Chinese pairs Feng and Huang & Jiang and Wei. Seeded alongside hometown hopefuls Chen and Toh & Goh and Lai. It is tough to make predictions about this situation. So many top pairs are out, it feels like the two Chinese pairs have it all in their hands. In the tour finals last month Chen and Toh did manage to clinch the runner-up place but didn’t beat the Chinese pairs.
The Malaysians will be on home soil so could take some motivation from that. Other than these top 4 seeds there are very few real challenges currently. Indonesian pair Dejan FERDINANSYAH and Gloria Emanuelle WIDJAJA reached two finals in the last year. They also beat the top two Malaysian pairs in the tour finals. They still failed to deliver a title and struggled against Chinese opponents. The new Hong Kong pair Tang and NG could make an impact but they haven’t competed at all together which would make it very difficult to win this season opener. The Europeans Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue have an opportunity with a thinned draw to have a stronger impact.
My money is still firmly on the Chinese pairs. If I had to bet I would put my $10 on Feng and Huang who have a 14-2 H2H record on their compatriots.
If they can both make it to the semi the Christie VS Shi Yuqi rivalry will provide more fireworks with every match they play being super close and entertaining. This does rely on both winning all their matches which is not assured. If we are talking about early rounds, the Lanier vs Vitidsarn first round match would be my pick. The first time the players meet. Lanier the hottest break through player on the tour against the reigning world champion who is only 24 himself. This could be the start of a great rivalry.
Womens singles
In Women’s singles I am looking to a potential Quarter-final match between Chinese rivals Gao and Wang. These compatriots faced each other 4 times last year, Wang taking the H2H 3-1 but Gao did win their last match which will give her hope. The Chinese team is so strong the tension between players will only get stronger.
This does rely on both players to reach the quarter-final so if you are looking for some good first round action I would turn to Mia Blichfeldt vs Tomoka Miyazaki. We saw a rejuvenated Mia Blichfeldt last year after she joined team Popov claiming two 300 titles. The biggest draw back for Mia has been her inability to perform at the top events, losing to unexpected players. Tomoka is the hot new thing in Women’s singles with a great 2024. She has beaten top players, claimed titles and has eyes on the top of the sport. In 2024 they played once with Tomoka claiming victory but we know Mia can bring the fire for revenge.
Mens doubles
There is a tasty first round match Alfian and Ardianto against Ong Yew Sin and Teo Ee Yi. The fourth seeds for the competition are ranked 20 places above their Malaysian rivals and lead on H2h 7-5. This is not the full story however as the Malaysian pair won the last two matches. Their matches together also tend to go the distance so this is our pick for an upset. Another $10 on this match please!!
Womens doubles
There are a few underlying rivalries in women’s doubles that are becoming quite interesting. There is the rivalry in India between Jolly and Pulella against Ponnappa and Crasto. They had a huge rivalry for the Olympic spot last year. That would have to be in the final, though, which is unlikely. There is a sister showdown in the first round between the Aimsaards and Panadas, which would be interesting, except the Thai pair will likely have way too much for it to be competitive.
The one rivalry I would like to see play out in Malaysia would be between the two Korean pairs, the new Kim and Kong pairing against the Beak and Lee in the quarter-finals. That has the potential for fire works with all the players competing at the top level being ranked in the top 20 together or with other partners and the Korean federation wants the focus taken off An Se Young.
Mixed Doubles
In the first round, there is a good rivalry brewing. The French pair Gicquel and Delrue will take on Danish pair Vesteergaard and Busch. Only one previous encounter going to the French could turn into a tasty rivalry with the underlying France versus Denmark debate and competition between the pairs to be the top European pair. Now that the Dutch pair Tabling and Piek are retired along with the suspension of Christensen for Denmark these are now the top two ranked pairs in Europe.
The hottest prospect in Men’s singles right now has to be Alex Lanier. Missing out on the Olympics might be the best thing to happen to Lanier. It has lit a fire under him which has seen him progress at lightening speed. Going from playing Challenge tournaments in June to winning a 750 in August! Wins against the top 10 are now consistent. He is THE player to watch right now!
Womens singles
At 18, Japan’s Tomoka Miyazaki is THE best chance at breaking the top 6 who are dominating badminton right now. She is the top seeded Japanese player in the competition and she could see this as an opportunity to take top spot from Yamaguchi and Ohori. Like Lanier she competed well in the second half of 2024 with multiple final and semi-final appearances but found it tough against the top tier of women. She is showing very similar signs to An Se Young at the same age, could we have another young superstar on our hands?
Men’s Doubles
The new pairing of Chiu Hsiang Chieh and Wang Chi-Lin of Chinese Taipei look a good prospect. Wang Chi-Lin is the current reigning Olympic champion but his partner for the gold Lee Yang has retired at the age of 29. This now opens the door to a new partnership and possibly new success on the world tour? Flying under the radar as a new pair but they could do some serious damage to the seeded players!
Women’s Doubles
The new Japanese pairing of Yuki FUKUSHIMA and Mayu MATSUMOTO has a lot of potential. They only have 2 tournaments together but beat 3 of the top 10 and got to a final. It is surprising how quickly the two players have been able to build a partnership and get results, a great sign of good things to come.
Mixed Doubles
My ones to watch will be the young pair from India Kapila and Crasto who only came together after the Olympics where Crasto competed in Women’s doubles. In their first 5 tournaments together they have already reached one quarter-final three semifinals and one final. A great start for two players unfamiliar with each other and both traditional level doubles players. They have a tough first-round match against Koreans KO Sung Hyun and EOM Hye Won this will be a good match to gauge the young Indians’ level for 2025.
Biggest upset at the Malaysia Open?
Toma jr Popov has been progressing well over the last year. He secured Olympic qualification, got to 3 finals, and has been making the games with Christie more and more competitive. Could Toma beat Jonatan Christie in the first round? Christie does have some inconsistency in him so it is possible that Toma jr Popov could provide an upset here at the Malaysia Open.
Womens singles
Putri Kusuma WARDANI to beat Gregoria Mariska Tunjung, an all-Indonesian battle! Wardani ended 2024 well with a win at the Korea Masters in November, she will be more rested and prepared than Tunjung who competed in the tour finals only 4 weeks ago. The pair only faced off once last season with Tunjung taking the win in 2 sets but Wardani has shown a higher level since that game beating top 10 players! Could she claim an impressive victory at the Malaysia Open?
Mens Doubles
In reality, there are not many upsets to even consider in the men’s doubles currently. The established players have such strong dominance. The one pick that would be very interesting if it happened would be Ben Lane and Sean Vendy beating China’s fifth seeds He Ji Ting and Ren Xiang Yu. The English pair don’t tend to cause many upsets or perform well in top events but they did have a few wins in 2024 that were noteworthy and are the focus for the England Badminton Federation with very few top prospects to rely on. Could they make a statement in the Malaysia Open?
Womens Doubles
This might not be such an upset considering both Kim and Kong have been highly ranked with other partners. Together for only 4 tournaments would normally mean they are not yet championship-ready however they most definitely are. They could quite easily take out the Yeung sisters of Hong Kong. Apart from this, there is very unlikely to be any significant upsets in Malaysia. It will be fought between the established top 10 pairs.
Mixed Doubles
There aren’t any clear upsets on the cards in Mixed Doubles, there are a few anomalies that could cause some problems like Robin Tabling and Alexandra Boje from different countries but experienced players. Maybe a new partnership like Tang and NG could surprise 6th seeds Yang and Hu from Chinese Taipei. They are unseeded and on a notional ranking, no experience playing together but they both have strong abilities that could work to their advantage in this match.
The Island Games are a biennial multi-sports event for island nations, territories, and dependencies.
At each event, participants compete in 12-14 different sports. Badminton is very much an integral part of the Island Games. The badminton competition consists of a mixed team event and individual championships encompassing all 5 badminton categories.
Brief history of badminton at the Island Games
Badminton has been part of every event – except the 2007 games in Rhodes (Greece).
The Isle of Man hosted the inaugural games in 1985. 700 athletes from 15 island territories competed in 7 different sports. Since then, the Island Games has grown in popularity. The games in Guernsey in 2023 saw over 2.000 athletes from 24 territories compete in 14 different sports.
The games has taken places at such wonderful places as Gibraltar, Isle of Wight, Bermuda, Gotland, Shetland, and Jersey. To date, the team from Guernseyhas been dominating the podium in both the individual as well as the mixed-team championships.
Badminton competition at the games in 2023
Look at the draw for the Island Games team-event competition in 2023. Personally, I was excited to learn that badminton is being played competitively in places such as the Cayman Islands, the Western Isles, and Bermuda – to name a few.
In many of these locations players have to make do with what’s available. Access to badminton courts, competent coaching and high-level sparring partners are likely limiting and potentially demotivating factors.
Of course, quite a few players benefit from training elsewhere. F.ex. a number of the Faroese and Greenlandic players live and train in Denmark. The Faroe Islands National Badminton team has benefited from coaching by Sune Gravholt (pictured below) – a former professional player and coach from Denmark.
With that in mind, it is no surprise that the North Atlantic island country of the Faroe Islands (Føroyar) won the team-event competition in 2023. They defeated Greenland in the final. Guernsey took the bronze medals following a narrow victory against Isle of Man.
In the individual competion the finalists were as follows:
Jens Nielsen of Greenland defeated Jordan Trebert of Guernsey in the men’s singles final
Sara Jacobsen of Greenland defeated Jessica Li of the Isle of Man in the women’s singles final
Christiansen/Wong of the Faroe Islands defated Navarro/Navarro from Menorca (Spain) in the men’s doubles final
Li/Claque from the Isle of Man overcame Justinusen/Thorkildshøj of the Faroe Islands in the women’s doubles final Wong/Thorkildshøj of the Faroe Islands defeated Christiansen/Grotinum of the Faroe Islands in the mixed doubles finale
Faroe Islands National Coach Sune Gravholt seen with National players
The next Islands Games competion in 2025
The Island Games will take place from 18-25 July 2025 in Orkney and badminton is once again included.
So where is Orkney? Glad you asked…
Here’s what the official Orkney Island Games website has to say:
Orkney is made up of more than seventy islands. Located in Scotland it offers nearly six hundred miles of coastline. It is a one hour flight from Edinburgh.
The population is around 21,500. It is said that many of the locals descend from the Vikings !
Nestled amidst the wild North Atlantic Ocean, Orkney boasts a rich tapestry of ancient monuments, breathtaking landscapes, and a close-knit community that warmly embraces visitors from all corners of the globe.
Steeped in a mesmerizing history that spans over 5,000 years, Orkney is home to an unparalleled collection of archaeological wonders.
Beyond its historical treasures, Orkney showcases awe-inspiring natural landscapes that leave visitors spellbound.
Despite the challenges of island life, Orkney has cultivated a strong sporting tradition. Our tight-knit community has fostered a love for various athletic endeavours, producing talented individuals who have achieved success on national and international stages.
Orkney’s passion for sports shines through in various disciplines. From football and rugby to cricket and athletics, our island community embraces the spirit of competition.
Local sporting clubs provide a platform for talent to flourish, and the dedication of coaches and volunteers ensures that young athletes have opportunities to develop their skills.
During Orkney Island Games 2025, you’ll find an island community that welcomes you with open arms. Join us as we continue to create a vibrant future, embracing our rich heritage while looking forward to the exciting possibilities that lie ahead
Once upon a time, England dominated badminton. Not only were the English responsible for popularizing the sport of badminton, but England also wrote the rulebook for badminton. Thank you very much for that – we owe the modern badminton pioneers from England a debt of gratitude.
The English dominated the All-England in the amateur era winning 27 men’s singles titles between 1900 to 1938. Since then England has won zero All-England titles and has not made any significant waves as far as major tournament wins go.
The numbers and comparisons below demonstrate just how poorly England has been performing in the last 34 years. The country went from a powerhouse in badminton to obscurity.
The comparison to Denmark seems most appropriate since both these European countries have a similar history of badminton.
England men’s singles ranking in the 1990s compared to Denmark men’s singles
In January 1990, England was still relevant in men’s singles having 5 men’s singles players inside the top 32 on the BWF ranking.
JANUARY 1990
ENGLAND
DENMARK
Players in the top 100
6 players
15 players
Highest-ranked player at
13
3
Number of players in top 32
5
6
By January 1995, England still had 6 players in the top 100, but no players amongst the best 32 in the world.
JANUARY 1995
ENGLAND
DENMARK
Players in the top 100
6 players
14 players
Highest-ranked player at
33
5
Number of players in the top 32
0
5
England badminton ranking in the 2000s – men’s singles
In January 2000 England’s position was status quo compared to January 1995. Although Denmark’s top player was ranked number 1 in the world at the time, Denmark
JANUARY 2000
ENGLAND
DENMARK
Players in the top 100
6 players
10 players
Highest-ranked player at
34
1
Number of players in top 32
0
4
By January 2005 England only had 4 players inside the top 100. The highest-ranked player was placed at number 30 – a slight improvement since January 2000.
JANUARY 2005
ENGLAND
DENMARK
Players in the top 100
4 players
9 players
Highest-ranked player at
30
3
Number of players in top 32
1
4
England badminton ranking in the 2010s – men’s singles
The competition from Asia and other European countries truly heated up during the 2010s. England improved slightly in the past 5 years and now has 2 players inside the top 32.
JANUARY 2010
ENGLAND
DENMARK
Players in the top 100
3 players
8 players
Highest-ranked player at
39
5
Number of players in top 32
2
3
Interestingly, in March 2011 the BBC wrote this articleabout some of the problems at Badminton England. Very hard to believe that these sorts of problems occur within an elite sports environment.
In January 2015 England’s men’s singles representation was highly diminished compared to the past decades. Now only one English player made it inside the top 100 ranking.
By comparison, Denmark dropped from 8 to 6 players in 5 years, 3 of which were inside the top 32.
JANUARY 2015
ENGLAND
DENMARK
Players in the top 100
1 player
6 players
Highest-ranked player at
24
3
Number of players in top 32
1
3
Highest-ranked England player in 2010s
Darren J. Hall
ranked 10 in April 1993
Darren Hall represented England at 3 Olympic games (1988, 1992, 1996) and became the European Champion in men’s singles in 1988
England’s men’s singles de route continues into the 2020s
By 2020, England had not managed to fix the performance problem. On the other hand, Denmark managed to put 2 more players inside the top 100 and maintained a top 5 position for the highest-ranked Danish player.
JANUARY 2020
ENGLAND
DENMARK
Players in the top 100
1 player
8 players
Highest-ranked player at
54
2
Number of players in top 32
0
4
At the end of the 2004 season, England – the former badminton superpower – had not a single male singles player ranked in the top 100.
Denmark, on the other hand, is still relevant having not one, but two players in the top 5.
DECEMBER 2024
ENGLAND
DENMARK
Players in the top 100
NOBODY
5 players
Highest-ranked player at
106
2
Number of players in top 32
0
3
Can Badminton England fix the men’s singles problem? Will this former world number 1 be able to get it right?
A change is desperately needed in English badminton. And change begins at the top.
Needless to say, for Badminton England this is not a quick fix. In men’s singles, English badminton went from decent to obscurity in around 30 years. It will take time to get the men’s singles category back on track.
In April of 2022, Badminton England hired legendary Morten Frost as its new Performance Director. Here’s what he said about the prospects of elite badminton in England in 2022:
My very English colleague will follow up with Badminton England shortly. We also intend to publish a similar article for other categories and countries.
In a quiet village surrounded by rolling hills and vast meadows, there was a young girl named Ella. Ella wasn’t the best at badminton, but she loved it more than anything else in the world. Every morning, she would run out to the field behind her house and practice, imagining that she might play in a big tournament one day.
But there was something Ella didn’t know. The village had a legend, a story passed down through generations, about a mysterious badminton bird. It was said that once in a while when the moon was full and the stars were bright, the bird would appear to play with those who truly loved the game.
No one in the village had ever seen this bird, but they all knew the stories—of how it could serve a shuttlecock over the tallest tree or return a shot that no one could reach.
One evening, just as the sun dipped behind the hills and the air became cool, Ella was still practicing in her usual spot, trying to improve her backhand. She had been practicing for hours, and as much as she loved badminton, she was starting to feel a little discouraged. The shuttlecock seemed to slip away from her racket more often than not, and she was frustrated.
“I’ll never be good enough to play in a tournament,” she sighed, watching the shuttlecock roll away into the grass.
Just then, she heard a soft rustling in the trees nearby. Startled, she looked up. And there, perched on a branch of the tallest tree, was a bird unlike any Ella had ever seen. It was glowing softly, with feathers that shimmered like silver in the fading light of the day.
Ella blinked, unsure if she was imagining things. “A bird?” she whispered to herself.
The bird chirped a cheerful tune and flapped its wings, causing a gust of wind to blow through the grass. It then dropped something from its beak—a shiny, colorful shuttlecock—which landed gently on the ground in front of Ella.
Her heart raced. “Is this… the badminton bird?” she wondered aloud.
The bird hopped down from the tree, landing softly on the grass. It looked at her with bright, wise eyes and fluttered its wings. As if inviting her to play, the bird picked up the shuttlecock with its beak and tossed it toward Ella.
Ella laughed in disbelief. “You want to play?”
The bird chirped again, and this time, it took off into the air, flying in graceful circles above her. Ella grabbed her racket, unsure what to expect. The bird swooped down, and as if following an invisible pattern, it tapped the shuttlecock toward her.
Ella served the shuttlecock with all her strength, and the bird effortlessly returned it with a flick of its wings. The shuttlecock zoomed back and forth, faster and faster, higher and higher. Ella found herself laughing, not caring if she missed or hit the shuttlecock wrong because the bird seemed to understand. Each time she made a mistake, the bird would chirp encouragingly and return the shuttlecock gently, as if to say, “Try again.”
At one point, Ella tried to serve the shuttlecock so high that it flew over the tree—the highest she had ever hit it. But the bird, without hesitation, soared above her, caught it in mid-air, and brought it back down to Ella’s side.
“You’re amazing!” Ella gasped, her heart full of wonder. The bird was like nothing she had ever seen—graceful, playful, and full of energy.
As the game continued, the sky darkened, and the stars began to twinkle overhead. Ella’s skills began to improve with every rally, her serves becoming more accurate, and her footwork faster. She wasn’t just playing; she was learning.
Finally, after what felt like hours, the bird paused mid-flight, landing softly beside her. It chirped one last time and tilted its head, as if thanking Ella for the game.
Ella smiled, out of breath but filled with a sense of accomplishment. “Thank you, thank you so much,” she said, her heart brimming with joy.
The bird gave one final chirp and, with a flap of its wings, flew into the night sky, disappearing into the stars.
The next morning, Ella awoke to find the shiny, colorful shuttlecock lying beside her bed as if it had been left there for her to keep. She knew in her heart that the badminton bird had truly come to play with her.
From that day on, Ella’s game improved faster than she could have ever imagined. Whenever she felt uncertain or discouraged, she would think of the bird, its gentle wings, and the magic of that unforgettable game.
And every once in a while, when the moon was full and the night was still, Ella would look out into the sky, half-expecting to see a flash of silver feathers and hear the soft rustling of wings, knowing that the badminton bird might come again to play.
The End.
I hope you enjoyed this magical little badminton story! It’s all about believing in yourself, having fun with the game, and knowing that sometimes, a little magic can make everything feel possible. 😊
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