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We are 4 months away from the start of the 2016 Rio Olympics and a month away from the qualifying deadlines to end for Rio 2016 in badminton. Prior to that deadline, two key events are lined up, one of whoch is the Malaysia Super Series Premier,that starts on Wednesday in Shah Alam.
here’s a look at the Top 5 Women’s Singles contenders for that event:
1.Carolina Marin
The past six months have proven to be a touch disappointing for Carolina Marin. The Spaniard has fallen at the semfinal stage of two global events- the Dubai Superseries Finals and the All England Championships- incidentally to the same opponent, Nozomi Okuhara of Japan, who after defeating Marin has gone on to win both titles.
However, if one has a look at the draw at Malaysia, then it is likely that she will face the Japanese opponent only in the finals, if either of them make it.
Unless any major hiccups come her way it is likely that Marin will enter Rio 2016 as the Number one player in the world and will take on Yip Pui Yin of Hong Kong in the first round at Shah Alam, where she will look to defend her crown.
2.Nozomi Okuhara
The last 6-7 months in badminton have seen the rise of several players from Japan and one of whom who has been making waves is Nozomi Okuhara. The 21-year-old made the world stand up and take notice at the 2015 Dubai Superseries Finals, where he defeated Marin, not once, but twice, en route to winning the year-ending tournament.
If you though that was just a flash in the pan, well then think again. Okuhara displayed her potential once again, this time at the All England championships where she defeated Marin for a third time in 4 months and eventually clinched her maiden crown at Birmingham.
Seeded 8 at Shah Alam, Okuhara will take on Busnan Ongbumrungphan in the opening round on Wednesday.
3.Li Xuerui
The highest ranked Chinese Women’s Singles player, Li Xuerui is a threat for every oppoent, in every competition. The 25-year-old is coming into the Malaysia Open following a runners-up finish at the India Open Superseries and a quarterfinal appearance at the All England Championships.
The reigning Olympic champion has a pretty enviable record against some of the best players in the game at present and will kickstart her 2016 Malaysian Open campiagn against Akane Yamaguchi from Japan.
4.Saina Nehwal
Although she failed to defend her India Open crown, those who saw Saina Nehwal play at the Siri Fort complex will tell you that those few days were the fittest, one has seen her in recent times. The 26-year-old who has thus far featured in three events this year, and will look to do one better than what she did in Delhi last week at Shah Alam, where, incidentally, she reached the semfinals in 2015.
Saina will kickstart her campaign against Nitchaon Jindapol of Thailand.
5.Ratchanak Intanon
One of the more consistent players on the circuit present, the 21-year-old Thai star will come into the Malaysia Super Series Premier high on confidence after having won her second India Open Super Series title in Delhi and that triumph certainly makes her one of the top contenders at Shah Alam.
Intanon had a disappointing outing the last time around, where she was ousted in the second round by Okuhara and she will look to improve her performance when she takes to the courts this time around.
She will face off against Iris Weng of Malaysia in the first round.
