China's New Guard Step Up to the Plate

• Talented teens filling shoes of retired champions

December 6, 2016 Dubai UAE A spate of retirements of the once-dominant Chinese badminton players following the Rio Olympics was expected to herald a quieter period for the badminton powerhouse, but several young players have stepped up to the plate and will keep China’s hopes for gold alive when competition in the Dubai World Superseries Finals kicks off in just over a week

China’s women’s singles superstars and former world number ones Wang Shixian and Wang Yihan were among the first to retire, followed by women’s doubles players and 2012 Olympic gold medallists and two time World Champions Zhao Yunlei and Tian Qing. Zhao is widely regarded as one of the finest doubles players of her generation having also won a total of five World Championships, mixed doubles gold at the 2012 Olympic Games and bronze in Rio 2016 alongside Zhang Nan. Former world number ones Yu Yang and Ma Jin also announced the end of their careers.

With 2012 Olympic singles gold medallist Li Xuerui still battling injury, the retirements saw China suffer a significant dent in their post-Olympics playing roster. But the final six MetLife BWF World Superseries events have shown that China’s youngsters are more than up to the task and the new generation of teens will be a serious threat in Dubai.

After being as low as 25 in the Destination Dubai Women’s Singles Rankings early in the year, talented 19- year old He Bingjiao powered home in the second half of the season, enjoying Superseries glory twice, first at the Yonex Open Japan - then two events later - at the Yonex French Open. He’s superb play saw her force her way into a qualifying spot for the season-ending blockbuster.

But the Dubai debutante will have her work cut out for her, coming up against a stellar field which features the first ever Women’s Singles badminton Olympic gold medallist from Europe, and the current World Champion, Carolina Marin; Japan’s own teenage sensation Akane Yamaguchi who collected two Superseries titles this year, and India’s rising star PV Sindhu who won India’s first badminton Olympic silver medal in Rio, as well as her first Superseries title in the Thaihot China Open in November.

Bingjiao’s explosion onto the singles world stage has been accompanied by the emergence of some dynamic doubles pairings. China it seems, has a stash of talented teens, with another 19 year old, Chen Qingchen looking to take over the mantle from the legendary Zhao Yunlei.

A multiple world junior champion, Chen came of age at the senior level this year, anchoring China to the Uber Cup triumph at home and then winning her first Superseries in Women’s Doubles in Australia in June with Bao Yixin. Chen also reached the Mixed Doubles final with yet another 19 year old, Zheng Siwei.

The post-Olympics season has seen Chen in the thick of action. Chen and Zheng picked up their first Superseries as a pair at the Yonex Open Japan, followed by a runner-up finish at the Victor Korea Open in October. Later that month, Zheng/Chen once again finished runners-up, to home pair Joachim Fischer Nielsen/Christinna Pedersen at the Yonex Denmark Open; the next week they captured their second Superseries title, the Yonex French Open, where Chen picked up her first Superseries double, also winning the Women’s Doubles with Jia Yifan, also 19 years old.

While Chen and Zheng qualified for the Dubai World Superseries Finals Mixed Doubles in fourth place, in the Women’s Doubles Chen and Jia they finished an agonising ninth, just outside of qualifying. Fortunately for the young Chinese, Japan had three pairs in the top eight, and as each country can only field two teams, Shizuka Matsuo and Mami Naito had to surrender their place to Chen and Jia, allowing the teenagers from China to debut in Dubai.

Chen is one of only two players to qualify for both the Women’s Doubles and Mixed Doubles in her first trip to the Dubai World Superseries Finals, the other being the experienced 30 year old Christinna Pedersen of Denmark who won silver in Rio with Kamilla Rytter Juhl, and has won the World Superseries Finals Mixed Doubles title twice before with Joachim Fischer Nielsen. Pedersen and Rytter Juhl also triumphed in the 2013 year-end finals.

The Dubai World Superseries Finals runs from 14-18 December at the Hamdan Sports Complex. Tickets are on sale at www.ticketmaster.ae. Prices start from AED 25, with those under 18 years entering for free when accompanied by a ticketed adult.

For more information go to

Website: http://www.dubaisuperseriesfinals.ae

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BWFDubaiFinals

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DubaiWorldSuperseriesFinals

Instagram: https://instagram.com/bwfdubaifinals/

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ENDS -

For More Information, contact:

Sarah Marks, Promoseven Sports Marketing

Email: sarah.marks@promoseven.com: +971 4 3210008, M: +971 55 4521968

About the Dubai World Superseries Finals:

The Dubai World Superseries Finals will see the eight top players in the Destination Dubai Rankings in singles, doubles and mixed doubles categories compete at the Hamdan Sports Complex from December 14-18 2016, for a share of a million dollar prize pool. To qualify for Dubai the players have to amass points from twelve MetLife BWF World Superseries Tournaments held around the world throughout the year.

In November 2016 the Dubai World Superseries Finals was awarded the maximum five stars in the prestigious Dubai Sports Council Sports Events Ranking System.

Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, and Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council, the World Superseries Finals are to be staged in Dubai each December until 2017 as part of a four-year partnership, facilitated by Falcon and Associates, in partnership with the Dubai Sports Council with the Badminton World Federation (BWF).

About BWF

BWF is the international governing body of the sport of badminton, recognised by the International Olympic Committee. It is the successor organisation to the International Badminton Federation (IBF) which was founded on 5 July, 1934. The IBF was rechristened the Badminton World Federation in 2006.

The purpose and objectives of BWF include regulating, promoting, developing and popularising the sport of badminton throughout the world and organising, conducting and presenting international events at the highest level.

The BWF’s vision is to make badminton a leading global sport accessible to all – giving every child a chance to play for life. Its mission is to lead and inspire all stakeholders; to deliver entertainment through exciting events to drive fan experience, and to create innovative, impactful and sustainable development initiatives.

The Badminton World Federation (BWF) has its headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, with 185 member associations worldwide.

Websites: www.bwfbadminton.com and www.bwfcorporate.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/bwfbadminton

About Dubai Sports Council:

Dubai Sports Council was founded on November 30, 2005 with the aim of developing and improving sport in Dubai. It aims to create a comprehensive sports environment that meets the requirements of society and paves the way for the youth to cultivate their sporting and cultural talents and aptitudes in a way that leads them to achieve tangible results, so that Dubai can become a leading name in the world of sports.

Website: www.dubaisportscouncil.ae

About Falcon and Associates:

Falcon and Associates FZ-LLC is an independent strategic advisory and implementation company working on behalf of the Dubai leadership to enhance the Emirate’s position as a global hub for finance, business and tourism. Falcon partners with government and private entities to build on the Emirate’s many successes to date, helping it fulfil its long-term potential.

Website: www.falconandassociates.ae