Uphill tasks for PV Sindhu and Srikanth in the BWF World Tour Finals

Uphill tasks for PV Sindhu and Srikanth in the BWF World Tour Finals
Sindhu Srikanth

On the 26th January 2021, the BWF announced draws for the BWF World Tour Finals, the one with the largest cash prize. The top eight players on the BWF World Tour ranking qualify for this event.

Women’s singles at the BWF World Tour Finals

WS World tour finals
Image Credit: BWF

PV Sindhu is in Group B along with World No.1 Tai Tzu Ying (Chinese Taipei), home favourites Ratchanok Intanon and Pornpawee Chochuwong. In the past two weeks, it has been a dismal performance by the Indian World Champion with a first-round exit, and a quarterfinal exit. This is an opportunity for the Indian to book a semi-final berth at least if she can cut down on errors and play her game. Ideally, as the World Champion, Sindhu would have automatically qualified for the event. However, due to the pandemic and the calendar coming to a halt, rules were modified. Sindhu, however, has qualified with ranking points to her merit, coupled with the withdrawal of two Japanese players.

Tai Tzu Ying would look to finally clinch a title after finishing runner up twice in the past two weeks. Carolina Marin is an unstoppable force at the moment. She would definitely be looking to win the triple title at Thailand and is completely capable of that.

FS Video

Also Read: Toyota Thailand Open: A fiery Marin wins again in Thailand

Men’s singles

Image Credit: BWF

Srikanth has a chance to make it to the knockouts if he can bring out the best in him. It is a matter of concern, however, because he withdrew from Yonex Thailand Open in the second round due to an injury and has been in quarantine due to his teammate testing positive for COVID19. This could have affected his fitness as well as mental preparations. However, he is one strong player with a hunger to win which could help him perform his best. Viktor Axelsen is in a fiery form, having won two titles in two weeks in Thailand Already. In strong contention to Viktor’s quest to a third title, The World Tour Finals title are Chou Tien Chen and his teammate Anders Antonsen.

None of the matches is going to be easy for any player as everyone here are the best and will have to fight for every point and every game. The likes of Anthony Ginting, Lee Zii Jia, Wang Tzu Wei, Ng Ka, all are going to put their best foot forward.

Women’s doubles

Image Credit: BWF

This is one of the most interesting categoreies in terms of high degree of unpredictibility of who could win. This is the only category in which the same pair has not won both th etitles at Thailand. Also there have been four different finalist sin this categpry ove rthe past twi weeks. IN group A Greysia and Apriyanu and Lee So Hee and Shin Seung Chan look strong. In Group B, The competeiton seemsslightly stringer. Kin SO Yeong.King Hee Yong, Jongkolphan K/ Rawinda and Chloe/ Lauren wouldt strongly fight for a spot in the semi finals.

Men’s doubles

Image Credit: BWF

Winners of the Toyota Thailand Open and Yonex Thailand Open, Wang Chi-Lin and Lee Yang will look to win a hattrick and look strong to succeed in that. They have against them Ong Yew Sin/Teo Ee Yi of Malaysia and two pairs from England. In the other group are the Malaysians who finished runner up at Toyota Thailand Open, Aaron Chia/Soh Wooi and veterans Mohammad Ahsan and Hendra Setiawan in strong contention for a spot in the semi-final. The Korean Pair of Choi and Seo also stand a good chance.

Mixed doubles

Image Credit: BWF

In the mixed doubles category, we have the winners of the Toyota Thailand Open and Yonex Thailand Open, Dechapol P/Sapsiree T of Thailand. With them is Seo Seung Jae/Chae Yu Jung of Korea, Praveen/Melati of Indonesia and Marcus/Lauren of England. This group will be very competitive to grab semi-final spots. Gloria/Faizal and Denmark Open 2020 winners Mark/Isabel look strong in group B.

Also Read: Toyota Thailand Open: Axelsen wins again in Thailand, scripts history

When and Where to watch?

The matches start at 9:30 AM IST and will be telecast live on Star Sports 3 and Star Sports 2 HD TV channels in India and Disney+ Hotstar OTT platform. 

Also Read:Taking doubles to new heights- Satwiksairaj Rankireddy