THE POLES WIN AN UNPRECEDENTED GOLD IN HONG KONG
Monday, 16 Nov 2009
The Hong Kong Open, penultimate leg in the 2009 Super Series will hold special and fond memories to a couple of relatively unheralded players from one of badminton minnows - Poland . Robert Mateusiak and Nadiezda Kostiuczyk are not complete strangers to the sport but when it comes to playing at the highest levels, among them the Super Series, they usually make up the numbers.   The depth in Mixed Doubles has remained pretty consistent with China , Korea , Indonesia , Denmark , England and Malaysia dominating. But this weekend at the Queen Elizabeth Stadium in Hong Kong , the Polish pair put to rest the fallacy that the mixed event was indeed the prerogative of the powerful nations of the game.

THAILAND SCORES AN UNPRECEDENTED ‘DOUBLE’ IN ALOR SETAR
Monday, 02 Nov 2009
Thai youngsters were a sensation at the conclusion of the World Junior Badminton Championship at the Sultan Abdul Halim Stadium in the North Malaysian city of Alor Setar over the weekend. In an exhibition of unprecedented quality of the highest level, they captured the Ladies Singles and the Mixed Doubles titles to win their nation’s first ever ‘gold’ in the World Junior event since its inception in 1992.   This was effectively the first time that Thai players had even qualified to the finals in any discipline, let alone winning one. In Alor Setar on Sunday night local time, they dispelled the virtual invincibility of the Chinese by having two of their players in the Final, an unparalleled achievement.   Ratchanok Intanon and Porntip Buranaprasertsu were the toast of Thailand . Seeded among the 5-8, they crawled their way through the ranks to face each other for the coveted title. And in the process, 18-year old Porntip saw off the Asian Champion and the top seeded Chen Xiaojia of China in a remarkable encounter that went all of three games in the semi-final, winning 16-21, 21-16, 21-19.

CHINA RETAINS THE SUHADINATA CUP
Friday, 30 Oct 2009
And yet again, China was crowned World Champions in the Mixed Team event of the Junior Championships. Played in the north Malaysian city of Alor Setar, the Chinese youngsters overwhelmed Malaysia 3-0 in the Finals on Monday evening to record their fourth victory in the five times the series have been played since its inception in 2004. The only blip in their otherwise perfect score came in 2006 when the Koreans upset the odds. An added glamour at the presentation ceremony in Alor Setar was the brand-new glittering Suhandinata Cup, which the Chinese youngsters received with much joy and pride. The Cup was a gift from one of Indonesia ’s most revered and renowned badminton families.

MALAYSIA HOSTS THE 11TH WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS
Thursday, 22 Oct 2009
The 11 th edition of the World Junior Championships will be held in the north Malaysian city of Alor Setar from 23 rd October to 1st November 2009. Twenty-two nations will participate in the 10 th day event which will have two trophies up for grabs. These are the newly introduced Suhandinata Cup, awarded to the Mixed Team champions and the Bimantara Cup for the Individual events.   Competition for the Suhadinata Trophy will be held between 23-27 October while the Individual championship will begin on 28 th October. A total of 109 players will participate in the two competitions.   In the Mixed Team Championship, defending champion China has been top seeded with Malaysia seeded 2. India and Thailand are joint third-fourth seeds. The grouping: Group W: China , Indonesia , Russia , New Zealand , Macau Group X:   Thailand , Germany , Vietnam , Hong Kong , Denmark , Sri Lanka . Group Y:   India , Canada , Philippines , Chinese Taipei , England , Australia Group Z:   Malaysia , Japan , France , Singapore , Cambodia .

CHUNLAI DERAILS TAUFIK’S MISSION
Thursday, 01 Oct 2009
Yet again, Taufik Hidayat failed in his mission to secure his first Super Series title since detaching himself from the Indonesian national training centre and going on his own. He had his best opportunity at the Japan Open over the weekend where the likes of Lin Dan, Chen Jin and Chong Wei were not around to stop him from the target. The Chinese hotshots had stayed away from the tournament while Chong Wei was shown the exit in an unexpected upset at the hands of Simon Santoso earlier in the championship. With only Bao Chunlai to get past, Taufik froze at the final hurdle and was bundled out quite tamely, 21-15, 21-12.   So it is back to the drawing board for the former World and Olympic Champion. But with age against him and the resurgence of a younger set of players from China , Thailand and Vietnam , his task ahead is not envious. But the ‘Old War Horse’ is never known to throw in his towel.