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

Published at :February 11, 2024 at 10:30 AM

Modified at :February 11, 2024 at 10:30 AM

(Courtesy : BAI)

Indonesia are the defending champions.

The Badminton Asia Team Championships 2024, scheduled from February 13 to 19 in Shah Alam, Malaysia, serves as the regional qualifier for the prestigious Thomas & Uber Cups Finals. Initiated by Badminton Asia in 2016, the event witness participation of the top Asian nations, although it’s often viewed as secondary. Powerhouses like China may opt to rest star players or send understrength squads.

Conversely, Indonesia has excelled in the men’s team event, clinching three golds and a silver across four editions. In the women’s team event, Japan and South Korea emerge as consistent contenders, securing medals in every edition. The venue remains consistent with the 2020 edition.

In the Badminton Asia Team Championships’ history, gold medals in either the men’s or women’s team events have been claimed by only four nations—Malaysia, China, Japan, and Indonesia. Japan and Indonesia stand out as multiple-time champions.

India’s track record in the tournament includes no medals in the women’s team event and just two bronze medals in the men’s team event. Currently tied with Thailand, India holds the sixth spot in the overall medal tally for the championships.

South Korea not registering for the women’s team this edition came as a huge shock. They have only registered for the men’s team event.

Top five title contenders in Badminton Asia Team Championships 2024

China

Like their men’s team, China has assigned their B team as well for the women’s team competition, yet they are among the favourites to win the title. World No.4 and 5 pair Liu Sheng Shu/Tan Ning and Zheng Yu/Zhang Shuxian are part of the female contingent, probably to pick who among the two will make it to Paris Olympics as the second Chinese women’s doubles pair. Han Yue is similarly in a fight for the spot against He Bing Jiao for the second women’s singles spot.

Although, the Chinese Badminton Association (CBA) has fielded some young talents for this edition, they are the favorites to top Group W. With only two teams in the group, both have received a bye to the quarterfinals.

Japan

Japanese women’s team are one of the favorites to win out the title at the Badminton Asia Team Championships. Led by 2017 World Champion Nozomi Okuhara, the team includes big names like former World No.2 pair Nami Matsuyama and Chiharu Shida, 2023 Asian Games bronze medalist Aya Ohori, and Japanese national champion Rena Miyaura and Ayako Sakuramoto.

2022 Junior World Champion Tomoka Miyazaki has also found a spot in the team along with Natsuki Nidaira, who recently reached the Indonesia Masters 2024 semifinals. Syed Modi 2023 women’s doubles champions Rin Iwanaga and Kie Nakanishi are the other big names in the squad. They are the favorites to top Group Z.

Thailand

The Aimsaard sisters Benyapa and Nuntakarn recently lifted the Thailand Masters title on home soil. Along with their senior compatriots Jongkolphan Kititharakul and Rawinda Prajongjai, Thailand has fielded their full strength in women’s doubles. Led by Supanida Katethong and Busanan Ongbamrungphan, the Women’s singles team also consists of Lalinrat Chaiwan, who won Guwahati Masters last year.

With a strong women’s contingent for the competition, Thailand expected to top Group Y.

India

2019 World Champion and double Olympic medallist, PV Sindhu, is set return on court at the Badminton Asia Team Championships 2024. Having sustained a knee injury at French Open 2023, Sindhu has been out since October end. Ashmita Chaliha is likely to be the second competitor in singles. National Champion Anmol Kharb and 2023 Asian Junior Championships U15 silver medalist Tanvi Sharma also have made it into the squad at 14 years of age.

The battle for one women’s doubles spot for India at Paris is set to intensify with both Ashwini Ponnappa/Tanisha Crasto and Treesa Jolly/Gayatri Gopichand part of India’s squad at the Team Championships. National champions Priya Konjengbam and Shruti Mishra are also part of the contingent.

Like China—the other team in Group W—India have also received a bye to the quarterfinals.

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Indonesia

They are the defending champions from 2022. Stars like Gregoria Mariska Tunjung and pair of Apriyani Rahayu and Siti Ramadhanti are not part of the squad for this edition. Febriana Dwipuji Kusuma, Lanny Tria Mayasari, Amallia Cahaya Pratiwi, Meilsya Trias Puspitasari, Rachel Allessya Rose, Ribka Sugiarto are the top women’s doubles pairs that will compete in the tournament.

The singles contingent comprises Putri Kusuma Wardani, Ester Nurumi Tri Wardoyo, Stephani Widjaja and Komang Ayu Cahya Dewi.

They are expected to top the Group X.

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