EAST ASIAN GAMES - Top Stars to Visit Hong Kong Twice
| EAST ASIAN GAMES - Top Stars to Visit Hong Kong Twice |
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This week's Hong Kong Open Super Series promises to be just the first of two opportunities for badminton fans on the island territory to see some of the best of the game in action. China, Japan, Hong Kong and Macau (click the names to see lists of athletes) have all signalled their intention to send their very best to the 5th East Asian Games, which are scheduled to kick off on December 5th in Hong Kong, China. The badminton competition, which is set to begin on December 9th - ominously, just three days after the conclusion of the Super Series Masters Finals - will feature all of China's top players, including Lin Dan, Chen Jin, Wang Lin, Wang Yihan and doubles pairs Ma/Zheng, Fu/Cai, and Du/Yu. The only one among China's still-active World or Olympic Champions to skip the event will be Zhang Yawen, who now has one injured and one retired partner. Hong Kong's contingent will be led by their triumvirate of women's singles stars - Zhou Mi, Wang Chen, and Yip Pui Yin - and will feature all their stalwarts, along with up-and-coming singles sensation Hu Yun. Chinese Taipei is also sending a strong team but without their top women's singles players and without men's doubles pair Fang/Lee. Korea is sending the weakest team, relatively speaking. Park Sung Hwan and four of the five doubles pairs currently in the Super Series top ten rankings are all absent from the entry list for the Games. The only exception is All England runner-up Ko Sung Hyun, who is slated to make the second trip to Hong Kong. The other top names on the Korean roster are Chinese Taipei Open runner-up Bae Seung Hee and Olympic bronze medallist Hwang Ji Man. To see the complete list of competitors and general information for the 2009 East Asian Games, CLICK HERE Newer news items:
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