SS FINALS 2010 – Draws done, stars ready to play

After today’s draws, the top seeds all took the time to talk to the press before the 2010 BWF Super Series Finals, which are set to kick off at noon tomorrow in Hsinjuang County Stadium in Taipei County.

By Don Hearn, Badzine Correspondent live in Taipei.  Photos: Badmintonphoto (live)

Team managers and Badminton World Federation (BWF) officials were all present at the tournament hotel, the Sheraton Taipei, where Referee Isabelle Jobard witnessed the remaining 30 names being drawn to fill out the ten groups that will begin play on Wednesday afternoon.

China did not have the luck of the draw as all three categories where they needed it ended up with both Chinese entries in the same group, as Du Pengyu and Wang Xiaoli / Yu Yang were drawn into the Group B’s headed by second seeds Chen Long and Cheng Shu / Zhao Yunlei respectively.  Cai Yun / Fu Haifeng and Chai Biao / Zhang Nan were also both drawn into the men’s doubles Group A (for complete draws CLICK HERE).

Chinese Taipei officials were visibly pleased that home favourites and world #1’s Cheng Wen Hsing / Chien Yu Chin managed to avoid both mainland pairs in the women’s doubles draw.

“It is, of course, very stressful to play at home,” said Cheng at the post-draw press conference.  “I am very nervous because a lot of hopes are riding on us at the biggest tournament ever held in Taiwan.

“But playing at home of course has plus and minus points and we will try to use the blessings and cheering of the home supporters to do our best in this tournament.”

Yoo Yeon Seong and Ko Sung Hyun of Korea are coming into this tournament on a high after winning the twelfth and last Super Series event last month but they have both Chinese pairs in their round robin group, along with 2008 champions Koo Kien Keat / Tan Boon Heong of Malaysia, whom they beat three times in 2010.

“We feel honoured to have the top seed position in such a major tournament,” said Yoo.  “Of course, we could never have predicted how the draw would come out and we are nervous going into the competition because the Chinese and Malaysians are players at the very top level and we have never beaten Fu/Cai before.  All we can do is just try to play our best in every match.”

Lee Chong Wei was not asked to comment on the recent resignation of his coach and the afternoon for everyone was focussed on the challenge at hand: preparing for the Super Series Finals.  However, later in the evening, the players and officials were treated to a musical performance at the welcome party, but some were not allowed to merely sit back and observe.  The singer who had been invited to entertain the gathering apparently had a liking for Lee Yong Dae and insisted that the Korean star join her on stage to dance to her rendition of the Wonder Girls hit ‘Nobody’.

Badzine will be on site all week in Taipei so stay tuned here for the latest news and live photos.

Come stay with us for the Super Series Finals at the Chateau de Chine.  Located at the heart of Sinjhuang City, Chateau de Chine Hotel is created to convey the vibrant and everlasting sense of traditional beauty. Inspired by the Art Nouveau style, Chateau de Chine hotel infuses the finest elegance of French design with an authentic touch of oriental aesthetics.   If you are looking for quality accommodation during the event or anytime you are visiting Taipei, check out their website here.