Unlike the men’s competition, there will be a clear favourite for the title in the women’s event, the Uber Cup: China, who has, according to most fans and specialists, a much better chance to win than any other team…Yet, who knows hat can happen? Let’s take a look at the main favourites, China, but also some others…

Of course, they are the clear favourites and will go for their 10th Uber Cup title and their 5th straight win in Tokyo, after they had first ended Susi Susanti’s Indonesia’s reign in 1996, 10 years ago. Whoever bets on China will probably not make a lot of money, as their players have been scooping the top of the world ranking − by far − for quite sometimes and in both ladies single and ladies double event.

Zhang Ning and Xie Xingfang seem to be just unbeatable as whenever they both enter any competition, they end up meeting each other in the final in 90 % of the cases.

Actually, the only question mark will be who will be joining this incredible duo, as a lot of youngsters are popping up, just like 17 year old Wang Lin who surprised everyone to beat Xie in the China Masters final few weeks ago in Chengdu. But Wang isn’t the only one knocking on heaven’s door : Chen Li, Jiang Yanjiao, Lu Lan and Zhu Lin make up a quarter of jewels.

Li Yongbo, China’s head coach, might have a difficult choice to decide whom he should send to Japan and whom he should tell to stay home.


In the ladies double, they also scoop the first two spots in the world ranking with Gao Ling and Huang Sui, the two smiling best friends who once again have won the All England (for the sixth time !) this year, and their partners Yang Wei and Zhang Jiewen, Olympic Champions and currently world number two. And since there is only two women’s doubles in the tie, needless to say that they will be key figures to a probable Chinese success.

Ever since his arrival few years ago, Korea’s legend Park Joo Bong has worked wonders. He has given a new boost to a Japanese team, who, unlike other top nations does not have a national training centre, but just clubs where the stars train in. He has overcome this fact by creating a new standard of training and key changes to make his players believe in themselves and play quicker than before.

His luck was also the arrival of Eriko Hirose who, thanks to her talent, soon became one of the top players in the world, able to threat any player in the circuit, even if the latter has slowed down a little since few months.

And instead of bowing to the new comer, the older competitors such as Kaori Mori and Kanako Yonekura. They seem to have found a second youth and are now fully prepared for their home event, where they figure amongst the favourites to get a medal − silver is probably their target even if they’ll settle for Bronze.

Japan has already won the Uber Cup on 5 occasions but last time was in 1981 − over 25 years ago…Yet this year could be the year where they can get closer to the top with their second seeded position, at the opposite of China − meaning they won’t play against them until the final if they top their group Z.

And they will count also on their doubles, with the local heroes Ogura and Shiota, who are the stars of this team. Also, Akao and Matsuda form a very solid second pair (world 15th) for key points against their future opponents, but their biggest strength will be their public support both in Sendai and Tokyo.

If China was able to come up with new players very quickly after the end of career of Gong Ruina and Zhou Mi − who has still not come back from injury − Korea still suffers from a clear lack of luck on top of the retirement of their best player Ra Kyung Min after the Olympic Games − and after the 2004 Uber Cup finals where she had played a key role to bring Korea to the final of the event.

Kim Kyeung Ran, the former Korean number one got badly injured few years ago and never came back. At the beginning of 2005, it was Jun Jae Yun’s turn to be badly injured during the Swiss Open and even if she was seen on a TV report hitting the shuttle, she has still not entered any tournament yet and may not be fielded, unless the Koreans keep her as a third ladies single, often crucial in ties.

have in coThe hopes now rely on Seo, Hwang, Jang and Lee whommon to be very talented but quite young and inexperienced.

The Korean strength will definitely be their doubles, with Lee Kyung Won and Lee Hyo Jung, the only top ten Koreans, as their second best pair lies in the 34th position.

Against all odds, Korea could still once again create a surprise as they have often done as their team spirit is one of the highest in the competition, which is crucial in such competitions…

The Dutch are the 3rd seeds and could be the black horses of this competition, with more chances to win a medal than what people may expect, even if they are drawn to play China in the semi final, should they top their group. If they don’t − which could be very possible with England and Hong Kong as their group opponents, it could be a blessing in disguise with a sudden drop in the lower part of the draw and a possible quarter final against Japan potentially − the clash of the round.

It will be the first time Mia Audina and Yao Jie compete together in a final stage of a Uber Cup and this could be their best chance to create the upset of the year if they succeed in scooping more than Bronze. Audina and Jie have the experience (Audina competed in her first Uber Cup when she was 16!) and can both play in the double event. The key to victory for the Dutch will be the ability for both to cope with the number of matches to qualify as they are known to be awfully talented but also tired quite easily.

Judith Meulendijks on her side will be making a dream come back in the team, only about a year after snapping her Achille’s tendon and could be helping out in the doubles as well as Lotte Bruil, who has come back from retirement and a beautiful baby. In the absence of the Danes − for the first time in a long time − the Dutch will definitely be Europe’s best chance to make it to the top.

If Korea, Japan and The Netherlands are officially the main opponents to China, there could be other teams to watch out for, such as Hong Kong, Germany and Singapore.

Hong Kong will rely on Wang Chen, who has also played in double to help her team mates qualify for the final stage, but the world number 3 is a little left alone in the team even if some youngsters are coming up.

Germany, on their side, gave a strong fight to the Dutch in the qualifying stage with Xu Huaiwen, Nicole Grether and Juliane Schenk as strong and versatile players, who could end up threatening some of their higher ranked opponents.

Singapore also, could prevent any of the challengers to China to get a medal. On a good day, Li Li’s partners can deliver great matches as shown by Xing Aying another very young player who could play a key role with their first double, Li/Jian, making it possible for Singapore to also get a medal…

Not to forget England, with Gail Emms as the top figure in the ladie’s double while Tracey Hallam as the flag holder in the single, gave a clear warning to her opponents : the left hander was the one who ended Camilla Martin’s dreams in the 2004 Olympics.

Chinese Taipei also, has got a very strong ladies single (Cheng Shao Chieh was bronze medallist in the World Championships) and ladies double as well. Their uncomfortable position with the Chinese in the group could also be a good sign for the second part of the tournament…

The USA, South Africa and New Zealand seem to be, on paper, a little less strong, even if the latter could be pulling some victories and maybe some wins in overall group ties…