China successfully defended their Badminton Asia Mixed Team Championship title. In the final which was held at the Dubai Exhibition Center on Sunday local time (19/2/2023), China defeated South Korea with a score of 3-1.
Quite surprisingly, their representatives are not the top ranked players. China sent their second liner players. In the squad list for this year’s championship, there is no name like Lu Guang Zu, ranked 10th in the men's singles world or Shi Yu Qi (ranked #13). None of the women's singles trio who are in the top 10 in the world, Chen Fu Yei (4, gold medalist at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics), He Bing Jiao (5), and Wang Zhi Yi (6). The same goes in the men's doubles, women's doubles and mixed doubles. In men's doubles, the two pairs that entered the world's top 10, Liu Yu Chen/Ou Xuan Yi (5) and Liang Wei Keng/Wang Chang (9) were also not listed.
In mixed doubles, there is indeed a name of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics gold medalist in mixed doubles, Huang Dong Ping. But she wasn't with Wang Yi Lyu. Huang Dong Ping was listed by name along with his partner ranked 24th Feng Yanzhe.
However, relying on their second liner, China remains unbeatable. Gao Fang Jie, whose women's singles ranking is 99th in the world, can contribute points in the final match. The defeated opponent was ranked far above, Kim Ga Eun, ranked 20th.
This proves that high ranking is not a guarantee. Indonesia, which is said to have come down with the best strength, lost in the quarter-finals by Korea with a score of 3-1. In men's doubles, the pair Fajar Alfian/Muhammad Rian Ardianto, is ranked 1st in the world. But as a result, when they met Korea, they failed to contribute points after losing to an impromptu opponent, Kim Won Ho/Na Sung Seung. In singles, world number three, Anthony Sinisuka Ginting, did not perform as expected. After losing in the preliminary round to Thailand's Shittikon Thammasin, Ginting rested in the quarter-finals. His position was replaced by Chico Aura Dwi Wardoyo, who managed to make Indonesia take the first 1-0 lead after winning over Lee Yun Gyu.
In women's doubles, ranked eighth in the world, Apriyani Rahayu/Siti Fadia was the determinant of Indonesia's defeat to South Korea. They lost to Baek Ha Na/Lee So Hee, a couple who just teamed up at the 2023 Badminton Asia Mixed Team Championship.
Apart from Indonesia, Malaysia, who came out with the best strength in three events, men's singles, men's doubles and mixed doubles, were eliminated in the quarter-finals. They lost 2-3 to China. The courage to back up the men's doubles of the world rankings and bronze medalists Aaron Chia/Soh Wooi Yik was not as expected. Malaysia lost points in this number although they still lost the doubles of world number eight, Ong Yew Sin/Teo Ee Yi. The two were defeated by world No. 20 He Ji Ting/Zhou Haodong in doubles.
The Badminton Asia Mixed Team Championship 2023 proves that ranking is not the main guarantee. When it comes to team championship, the selection of athletes plays a big role in their team’s strategy.
Congratulations to China on their successful title defense.
