SUDIRMAN CUP 2011 – Korea reveals line-up

Korea today revealed their team selection for the Sudirman Cup, which kicks off in Qingdao, China on May 22nd.

There are no real surprises in the line-up.  Jung Jae Sung is back from his honeymoon so Korea will have its two world top 5 men’s doubles pairs to choose from.  The only question marks were on the women’s squad, where Kim Moon Hi has been chosen, as has Jang Ye Na.

Bae Seung Hee, the heroine of last year’s Uber Cup final, suffered a thigh injury in the final of a domestic team tournament, when both her singles and doubles matches went to 3 tough games.

Ha Jung Eun will be shouldering plenty of pressure this time.  She has been tipped as the new mixed partner for Lee Yong Dae, though Korea can still go with the successful Ha/Ko partnership or with Yoo Yeon Seong / Kim Min Jung.  Ha and Kim, meanwhile, have recently reached two women’s doubles milestones: their first Grand Prix title together (Swiss Open) and their first victory over a Chinese pair (Ma/Du at the Badminton Asia Championships).

Korea is the only nation other than China to win badminton’s mixed team world championship since Indonesia won the first edition in 1989.  They start in Group D, along with Denmark and England.

Korea’s Sudirman Cup team
Men
Singles: Park Sung Hwan, Lee Hyun Il, Shon Wan Ho
Doubles: Jung Jae Sung, Lee Yong Dae, Ko Sung Hyun, Yoo Yeon Seong
Women
Singles: Bae Youn Joo, Sung Ji Hyun, Kim Moon Hi
Doubles: Ha Jung Eun, Kim Min Jung, Jung Kyung Eun, Jang Ye Na