BWF World Championships 2023: Singles Preview
Viktor Axelsen and AN Se Young have reigned supreme over the past year. Nonetheless their rivals are descending on Copenhagen determined to challenge their auras of invincibility.
Grab your popcorn and get ready for the excitement overload that the World Championships will deliver. I’m looking forward to some famous victories, fierce contests and heart-stopping surprises.
2M8HTR3 Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen reacts during his men’s singles semifinals match against Japan’s Kanta Tsuneyama at the Malaysia Open badminton tournament at Bukit Jalil Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Saturday, Jan. 14, 2023. (AP Photo/Kien Huo)
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Men’s Singles
No one becomes the World or Olympic Champion by chance and Viktor’s recent track record is a testament to his dedication and ruthless winning mindset. Who has what it takes to compete against him? The chasing pack offer so many intriguing possibilities.
The top half of the draw throws up some potentially tricky opponents. India’s HS Prannoy is lined up for a R16 clash with LOH Kean Yew, with the subsequent QF likely to be against Viktor. Prannoy is enjoying a good run of form and knows that he is capable of causing a big upset. Kunlavut Vitidsarn is seeded 3 and beat Axelsen in 3 sets at the India Open final in January so he is also a credible threat, although he will have to negotiate a way past a resurgent Lakshya SEN and probably the current All England Champion LI Shifeng as well.
The bottom half of the draw is fascinating. The two standout unseeded players here are NG Tze Yong and LEE Zii Jia. LZJ is rebuilding his confidence with a new coach after a tough year; NTY is the epitome of dogged undemonstrative determination. Both can be world beaters when they are at the top of their game, but both cannot get to the QF. Realistically it’s possible that both will suffer an early exit – the curse of the unseeded competitor – as Zii Jia’s first match is against Jonatan Christie whilst Tze Yong could encounter Anders Antonsen in his second.
Kodai Naraoka is seeded 4 whilst SHI Yuqi is 8 and the prospect of a QF between them is fascinating. Naraoka’s endless stamina allows him to relentlessly pursue every point whereas SYQ is more enigmatic. Endurance skills are likely to be key here, especially if the hall is slow.
Women’s Singles
Who has the inner strength to go head-to-head with AN Se Young and come out on top? The most likely players are the other members of the Fab Four. Akane Yamaguchi is the defending champion and aiming to win it for the third time in a row. Reports from Japan have revealed that she injured her right foot a few weeks ago. Her style hinges on exceptional court coverage so it’s crucial that she has made a full recovery.
This is probably TAI Tzu Ying‘s last chance to win Gold at the World Championships. Her victory in two sets over ASY at the Asian Championships recently is thought provoking given Se Young’s subpar performance. It’s hard to determine if she was worn down by her path to the final or was hampered by an injury niggle. Generally speaking she can neutralize TTY by offsetting her spontaneous creativity with relentless retrieval.
CHEN YuFei is seeded 3 in the top half of the draw which sets up the possibility of a SF against ASY. She has all the patience and all the shots needed to counter the Korean. She is the most likely to find a way through, especially as she has the skill to ramp up her scoring at pivotal parts of the match to capitalize on a rival’s mid-game slump. Her weakness can be caution but I wonder if AN Se Young has the inclination to exploit that.
Outside of these top four seeds could anyone else get on the podium. PV Sindhu always unleashes her ‘A’ game at the big events and if she is fit, she may feature in the medals. The draw has not been kind to her: if she overcomes ASY then she would unlock a SF showdown against CYF. Gregoria Mariska Tunjung is starting to realize the potential that marked her junior years. Her creative flair has always been exquisite but now it is seasoned with more mental resilience which is making her a tougher rival. She could be quite a menace to Akane’s ambitions if they meet at the QF stage.
Predictions?
More than a billion people will be watching to see who can outshine the two top seeds. Considering that Viktor’s home advantage should give him an extra incentive to win, it is likely he already has one foot on the podium. The Women’s Singles seems a little more open. AN Se Young’s future is golden, but she will be stretched from the moment she steps on court.
Some spectacular clashes are on the horizon, so get ready to relish the battles ahead.
If you enjoyed this, then take a look at my recent article about AN Se Young https://womensbadminton.co.uk/2023/03/03/an-se-young/ or this one about TAI Tzu Ying and Ratchanok Intanon https://womensbadminton.co.uk/2023/04/09/tai-tzu-ying-ratchanok-intanon-maytai/
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