Top five title contenders in Badminton Asia Team Championships 2024 in men's category

Published at :February 8, 2024 at 4:00 PM

Modified at :February 11, 2024 at 5:52 AM

(Courtesy : BAI)

Malaysia are defending champions

The Badminton Asia Team Championships 2024, scheduled from February 13 to 19 in Shah Alam, Malaysia, is a biennial competition initiated by Badminton Asia in 2016. Serving as the Asian qualifiers for the prestigious Thomas & Uber Cups, the tournament maintains its venue from the previous 2020 edition.

Regarded as a secondary event by top Asian badminton nations, it often sees the deployment of second-string teams as star players are rested. Indonesia has asserted dominance in the men’s team event, clinching three gold medals and one silver in the tournament’s four editions thus far.

Countries who are the favorite to win the team event

China

If you’re sending your B team and still topping the charts, you must be China. Spearheaded by former World No. 10 Lu Guang Zu and 2023 Denmark Open champion Weng Hong Yang, He Ji Ting and Ren Xiang Yu were a pair made post-2023 Asian Games and they skyrocketed with ease, sitting comfortably at World rank 14.

They have won the Thailand Masters last week and Japan Masters last year. Lei Lan Xi created a huge upset last year by defeating HS Prannoy in two straight games, whereas Chen Bo Yang and Liu Yi are 2023 Orleans Masters champions.

It’s just their B team yet it sounds good enough to win the championship. They are placed with India and Hong Kong China in Group A; they will be favorites to make it to the knockout stage.

Indian Sports Live Coverage on Khel Now

India

The 2022 Thomas Cup champions have fielded a strong team. India’s stalwarts like 2023 World Championships bronze medalist HS Prannoy, former World No. 1 Kidambi Srikanth, 2021 World Championships bronze medalist Lakshya Sen, 2023 Asia and Asian Games champion Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty all are a part of the team event.

The national champions are also given a chance to show their potential in the team event, Chirag Sen (brother of Lakshya Sen interestingly) and the young pair of Suraj Goala and Prithvi Krishnamurthy Roy. With Lakshya Sen coming back in form, India will be big favourites to win the coveted gold in this tournament.

They are placed with China and Hong Kong China in Group A; they will be favorites to make it to the knockout stage.

Malaysia

Malaysia are the defending champions of the tournament. In their home soil, the stakes will be high. Malaysia has fielded their strongest team for the event. This will mark a return of Ng Tze Yong who was injured since the Malaysia Open 2024.

Lee Zii Jia, Ng Tze Yong, and 2022 World Champions Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik form a very formidable top three. The strength is followed by the young pair of Choong Hon Jian and Muhammad Haikal who triumphed at 2023 Syed Modi and Guwahati Masters.

They are the favorites to top the Group B.

Indonesia

Indonesia’s doubles stars Rolly Carnando, Muhammad Shohibul Fikri, Daniel Marthin, Bagas Maulana, Yeremi Erich Yoche Yacob Rambitan spearhead the contingent. The ever impressive Chico Aura Dwi Wardoyo and 2023 Junior World Champion Alwi Farhan are a part of the squad as well, which makes it a strong team to make it to the podium.

They are the favorites to top the Group D.

Chinese Taipei

2020 Tokyo Olympics champs Lee Wang and Wang Chi-Lin spearhead the contingent with Wang Tzu Wei, Chi Yu Jen, Lee Chia Hao who have been very impressive in the last six months. Lu Ching Hao and Yang Po Hsuan have also performed when in need, giving 2022 World Champion Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik a run for their money in 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games.

Japan

Double World Champion Kento Momota lead the Japan contingent for the team event. Big names like Kenta Nishimoto and the pair of Akira Koga and Taichi Saito are a part of the team. Koki Watanabe has caused a lot of upsets recently. Kenya Mitsuhashi and Hiroki Okamura can also deliver on given days.

They are the favorites to top the Group C.

For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram