DENMARK OPEN 2013 – Even reserve list star-studded

The entry lists for the upcoming Yonex Denmark Open Superseries Premier released yesterday showed no fewer than 3 former top 3 players relegated to the reserve list.  Current World Champion Lin Dan stands as 6th among men’s singles reserves, even though he told Xinhua this week that he did not intend to play any tournaments in Europe until the end of 2013.  Slightly ahead of him is former world #3 Simon Santoso of Indonesia and slightly behind is back-to-back Chinese Taipei Open and China Masters finalist Son Wan Ho.  In the women’s singles, Wang Xin (pictured) stands at 4th reserve after she made her 2013 debut this week at the Adidas China Masters.

The developments are even more intersting in the doubles, however.  Foremost among them is the renewal of the Commonwealth Games gold medal-winning partnership of Ashwini Ponnappa and Jwala Gutta of India, which was announced in the Indian press earlier this month.

Next is the men’s doubles partner swap by Korea that was announced on Thursday which will yield pairings of Yoo Yeon Seong with Lee Yong Dae and Ko Sung Hyun with Shin Baek Cheol.  China is getting into the action, too, as Fu Haifeng is to partner Hong Wei while Cai Yun will be playing with Hong’s current partner Chai Biao.  Two brand-new German pairs will actually get their unveiling in London a couple of weeks earlier.

Ma Jin will be back with Zhong Qianxin for the first time in over a year and a half and World Championship runner-up Eom Hye Won will have a women’s doubles partner for the first time since the Worlds as she is entered with Shin Seung Chan.  Korea also continues tweaking the mixed doubles as two pairs that were reunited for the Worlds, Shin/Eom and Yoo/Jang, will be back together for the Denmark Open.

Participation in Superseries Premier events is mandatory for all top 10 players and 28 competitors selected for the main draw are backed up by up to an additional 16 who can play qualifying rounds.

Click here to download the complete entry lists from the BWF website