Women’s Doubles: Top Five Pairs to Watch

Since China started competing at the BWF World Championships, they have won all but three women’s doubles gold medals. Heading into New Delhi, China have won the event at the last four editions.

Leading the charge will be defending champions Liu Sheng Shu/Tan Ning. With fourth seeds Jia Yi Fan/Zhang Shu Xian and eighth seeds Li Yi Jing/Luo Xu Min also in contention, it will be a hard task for any of their opponents to deny China.

Yet, the outcome is far from certain, for Japan, Korea and Malaysia do have strong pairs capable of wresting the initiative.

The young defending champions have taken the baton from senior compatriots Chen Qing Chen/Jia Yi Fan and excelled in quick time. With their sheer physicality, attacking prowess and all-court ability, Liu and Tan are setting new standards in women’s doubles, and they’re only just starting.

Fukushima has been in three finals, and part of the blame for never winning a world title must go to her partner, for Matsumoto (with Wakana Nagahara) twice denied her and Sayaka Hirota the ultimate prize. This season Fukushima/Matsumoto have consistently excelled, winning the Indonesia Open and having title shots in India and China.

It has been another consistent season for the Koreans, although they couldn’t achieve a title from two Super 1000 finals. Yet, they are a pair that is never out of the reckoning, and having made the semifinals of their last World Tour event (China Open), Baek/Lee will look to continue that momentum and achieve their first podium as a pair.

Jia Yi Fan, having won four gold medals with Chen Qing Chen, will eye a history-making fifth world title, which will make her the most successful player in a single doubles category. Jia and Zhang were in four finals this season, winning in Singapore and Australia.

Despite Kong’s long injury layoff, she made a spectacular return with Kim at the Japan Open, producing one of the most memorable matches in recent memory. The deciding game of the final against Jia Yi Fan/Zhang Shu Xian was a needle contest, ending 30-29 in the Koreans’ favour. With such a significant win close to the World Championships, Kim/Kong will look to do what no Korean women’s doubles pair has done since 1995 – win the title.

Other Top Contenders: Pearly Tan/Thinaah Muralitharan; Rin Iwanaga/Kie Nakanishi; Rui Hirokami/Sayaka Hobara

Top Home Contenders: Treesa Jolly/Gayatri Gopichand Pullela