Key players to watch out from Australia in Sudirman Cup 2023

Badminton Australia has confirmed the selection of its National Falcons Team for the TotalEnergies BWF Sudirman Cup Finals 2023 which will be held in China next week from 14–21 May. The team comprises a blend of experienced and young players who will participate in one of the sport's most prestigious mixed team badminton contests against the world's best players.

The selected team for Badminton Australia comprises ten players who will be led by National Senior Coach Leanne Choo and include four reserve players (two female and two male) who have been selected to assist if any of the above team members withdraw from the competition.

The selected women are Gronya Somerville , Kaitlyn Ea , Tiffany Ho , Angela Yu and Sydney Go. Meanwhile, the selected men are Jack Yu , Rayne Wang , Kenneth Choo , Nathan Tang and Ricky Tang .

Australia has been drawn into Group C which includes Malaysia, Chinese Taipei, and India. The National Falcons Team will take on some of the world's top badminton players in one of the most respected mixed team badminton tournaments.

Jack and Angela Yu

Melbourne teenage siblings Jack and Angela Yu are among the top badminton players in Australia and they have both shown exceptional skill in mixed doubles, albeit not as partners. While they may not team up on the court, they are both thriving in this discipline, displaying impressive technique and tactical prowess.

Their mother, He Tian Tang, was a bronze medalist in women's doubles at the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games, representing Australia. Prior to that, she had won Olympic bronze for China in 1996. With such a strong badminton background, the Yus are well-equipped to compete at the highest level, and they will be hoping to follow in their mother's footsteps by achieving success on the international stage. Their selection is a testament to their dedication and talent and they are sure to be a valuable asset to the Australian team.

Gronya Somerville

Gronya Somerville is a talented badminton player from Australia who has achieved numerous accolades in her career. She began playing badminton at the age of six and quickly rose through the ranks to become a top-level player. Somerville has represented Australia at several international competitions, including the Commonwealth Games, the World Championships, and the Sudirman Cup. She is known for her exceptional skills in doubles matches and has won several titles alongside her partners, including the Oceania Championships, the New Zealand Open, and the Sydney International.

Gronya Somerville, in partnership with Setyana Mapasa, has been instrumental in elevating Australian badminton to new heights. Together, they have achieved remarkable success including becoming the first Australian pair to win a Grand Prix title in 2016, winning both the Canada Open and Dutch Open that year. Somerville and Mapasa's achievements also include an impressive 4th place finish at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and multiple Oceania championship titles including the Women's Doubles Champion from 2014 to 2019 and the Mixed Doubles Champion in 2019. The senior player in the team who will be representing Australia again making one of the most formidable doubles pairs in the sport.

Kaitlyn EA

Kaitlyn Ea is a rising star in Australian badminton having represented her country on multiple occasions as a junior including at the BWF Junior World Championships in 2018 and 2019. She has demonstrated remarkable skill and determination in her young career and has quickly become one of the top players in her age group. Ea's achievements also include several impressive victories at national and international tournaments including the Oceania Junior Championships and the Sydney International.She has earned recognition as one of the most promising young badminton players in Australia

It is worth noting that,Nathan Tang and Tiffany Ho are both top-ranked badminton players in Australia and they have already achieved impressive results in their young careers. Tang has already represented his country at multiple international events including the BWF World Junior Championships where he made it to the round of 16 in men's doubles.

Ho has also competed at the highest levels including the BWF World Junior Championships where she has demonstrated her talent and potential. With their impressive track records and ongoing commitment to the sport, both Tang and Ho are poised to become major forces and they will undoubtedly be players to watch out for in the years to come.

The Suzhou tournament has dubbed Group C as the "Group of Death" due to the presence of Malaysia, Chinese Taipei and India alongside Australia. Despite the tough competition, Australia has selected a resilient squad, putting their best foot forward into the tournament.